Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto calls on nation to be 'courageous'

Former general urges unity to overcome 'challenges' in inauguration speech

Indonesia's new president, Prabowo Subianto, is sworn in during his inauguration at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Oct. 20. (Photo by Antara Foto)

NANA SHIBATA and ISMI DAMAYANTI, Nikkei staff writers

October 20, 2024 14:52 JST

Updated on October 20, 2024 17:34 JST

JAKARTA -- Prabowo Subianto urged Indonesians to be "courageous" to overcome the country's "obstacles, challenges and threats" but called on people to be polite as they resolve their differences after he was sworn in as the eighth president of Southeast Asia's largest economy on Sunday.

In an at-times emotional 50-minute speech to more than 1,000 people at Indonesia's parliament after taking his oath of office alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 73-year-old former general also promised to work for the interests of the whole nation of 274 million people, not just those who voted for him.