Indonesian court rejects calls to repeat presidential election

Calls for a repeat of Indonesia’s presidential election failed on Monday in a court ruling that cleared the way for Prabowo Subianto to take office in October and sparked protests from supporters of the failed candidates.

Former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, who appeared in court for the decision, alleged that Prabowo’s comfortable victory in February was the result of corrupt behind-the-scenes deals and manipulation of state institutions by Joko Widodo’s government. to design preferred outcomes.

The accusations included nepotism, cracking down on officials, stacking government jobs with allies, and buying votes with government-funded welfare aid.

The losing candidates argued that the election should be held again without Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Widodo’s eldest son.