Will Prabowo save or destroy democracy in Indonesia?

New president appears eager to uphold current norms, but critics remain skeptical

20241107 Prabowo Analysis

Pundits worry that new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto may reverse the country’s democratic progress, following a pattern similar to Thailand, which began its democratization a decade earlier than its key ASEAN rival. © Reuters

TORU TAKAHASHI, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- New Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as the eighth president of Southeast Asia's largest economy on Oct. 20. What was originally scheduled as a 15-minute inaugural address unfolded into a fiery 45-minute speech, punctuated by raised fists and concluding with the rallying cry of the nation's independence and foundation: "Merdeka (freedom)! "

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