Indonesian tensions ease as election loser Subianto congratulates Jokowi

The ex-general who lost Indonesia’s election in July has urged his supporters to back new leader Joko Widodo, signalling a thaw that could help the incoming president enact much-needed reforms.

Widodo, known as Jokowi, beat Prabowo Subianto in the most closely fought election the world’s third-biggest democracy has ever seen and is the country’s first leader without deep roots in the Suharto era.

However Prabowo, who had been seeking the presidency for more than a decade, only grudgingly conceded defeat and parties that backed him at the poll have since been flexing their muscles in parliament, raising fears that Widodo may not be able to push through his reform agenda.

Prabowo’s backers used their parliamentary majority to win key positions in the legislature and voted to abolish the direct election of local leaders, rolling back a key democratic reform of the post-Suharto era.

But after much criticism of his behaviour the ex-general met Widodo on Friday for the first time publicly since the election. The pair appeared smiling together at a press conference afterwards during which they shook hands and embraced one another.

“During a meeting that was full of friendship I congratulated him,” said the ex-general, who has a chequered human rights record and used to be married to one of Suharto’s daughters.

“I conveyed to the party that I lead, my friends and supporters, to back Jokowi and his government.”

However he added: “If there’s some things which are not for the benefit of our nation and people, we will not hesitate to criticise.”

Widodo responded: “Our goals are the same … everything is for the sake of the nation.”

He also welcomed Prabowo’s willingness to disagree. “A balance in the management of the country is very important. There are some who execute, some who control and some who criticise. I see that as a good thing.”

There has been speculation about whether Prabowo will attend Widodo’s inauguration on Monday and the ex-general said he would try his best to be there if he could make it back from an overseas trip on time.

Widodo, who is from a humble background and shot to national prominence as Jakarta governor, has put forward an ambitious reform agenda that includes reviving the major south-east Asian economy and improving healthcare and education. (theguardian.com)