As Indonesia swears in new president, all eyes on Prabowo’s team and how he will engage with the world


At 73, he is Indonesia’s oldest president to take office while Mr Gibran, 37, is the country’s youngest-ever vice-president.

Despite winning on the pledge of continuity, however, analysts say Mr Prabowo could adopt different approaches in his economic, defence and foreign policies.  

MOTORCADES, MUSIC – AND HORSES?

From the parliament building, Mr Prabowo’s and Mr Gibran’s motorcade will pass through Jakarta’s main thoroughfares as they make their way to the presidential palace.  

Mr Hotman Paris, a celebrity lawyer and member of Mr Prabowo’s campaign’s legal team, said last week that thousands of supporters will line two of Jakarta’s biggest streets, Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin, to greet the pair.

Quoting an anonymous source, Kompas newspaper reported that Mr Prabowo’s supporters had also prepared a so-called “festivity for the people”, setting up 10 music stages at various locations along the two streets.

Details of Mr Prabowo’s plan for the day are still under wraps. But Kompas reported the pair may step out of their vehicle and greet their supporters. If true, the move would be similar to what Mr Widodo did when he took office.

In 2014, Mr Widodo and then-vice president, Mr Jusuf Kalla, greeted supporters who were waiting at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in downtown Jakarta before they were ferried in a horse-drawn carriage to the presidential palace around three kilometres away.

According to Kompas, some volunteers are wishing for something similar, but with Mr Prabowo and Mr Gibran riding horses from the National Monument, about a kilometre away from the palace.



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