A New Dawn

After years of political perseverance, former general and Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto is sworn in as Indonesia’s new president. His leadership promises bold reforms, a strengthened national defence, and a renewed focus on economic independence, marking a fresh chapter for the country’s future. All eyes are on him as he steps into the role, poised to guide Indonesia through pivotal challenges and opportunities.

Prabowo takes helm as Indonesia’s president

The inauguration of Prabowo as Indonesia’s new president marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s political history.

Prabowo, or his real name, Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, will be Indonesia’s third president who had military background after Suharto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

After years of serving as a prominent figure in Indonesia’s political and military arenas, Prabowo’s ascent to the presidency is a reflection of both his enduring popularity and his vision for Indonesia’s future.

As a former general and the leader of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo brings with him a blend of military discipline, nationalist ideals, and a commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s sovereignty on the global stage.

Esteemed background

This 73-year-old influential man is an Indonesian politician and retired lieutenant general who has been a prominent figure in the country’s political landscape for many years.

He was born on October 17, 1951, in Jakarta and comes from an influential family; his father, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, was a respected economist and minister in Indonesia.

Prabowo and his siblings — two older sisters and a younger brother — have a cosmopolitan background.

During his high school years, he studied at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Between 1966 and 1968, the family lived in London, where Prabowo attended and graduated from the American School.

Prabowo’s career began in the military, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant general.

He served as the commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) and was known for his role in military operations, including during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor.

After his military career, Prabowo transitioned into politics. He founded the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra Party) in 2008, which quickly became one of the major political forces in Indonesia.

He has run for the presidency several times: in 2009 as Megawati Sukarnoputri’s running mate, and in 2014 and 2019 as a presidential candidate. Although he lost both presidential bids to Joko Widodo (Jokowi), he gained significant support across the country.

Despite his losses in the elections, Prabowo has remained a central figure in Indonesian politics.

In a surprising turn of events, after the 2019 election, he joined Jokowi’s government as the Minister of Defence, reflecting Indonesia’s tradition of coalition-building even among political rivals.

In the recent election, Prabowo also controversially named Jokowi’s eldest son, 36-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate after the minimum legal age to hold office was lowered from 40.

Although Jokowi did not formally endorse any candidate, Prabowo has widely been considered as Jokowi’s implicit preference to become president.

In case you missed it, Prabowo was married to Titiek Suharto, the daughter of former Indonesian president Suharto.

They have a son, Didit Hediprasetyo, who lived in Boston before settling in Paris to pursue a career in fashion design.

While his son has shown little interest in politics, Prabowo is uncle to Gerindra politicians Budi Djiwandono, Aryo Djojohadikusumo, and Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, who together continue the Djojohadikusumo political lineage, reported the Jakarta Post.

Campaign promises

Prabowo’s election manifesto was based on a platform titled “Developing Indonesia”, which included pledges of an eight per cent economic growth target and improvements to the palm oil production chain, reported DW.

His campaign also ran on promises to raise salaries for civil servants, police, and military officers and provide more affordable housing, along with a pledge to eradicate extreme poverty in two years.

He also pledged to continue working on a project to move Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to a planned city called Nusantara in the province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The plan, known as the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) project, had been ratified by Jokowi in 2019.

Animal lover who loves history, adventure

Despite being a high-profile public figure, Prabowo maintains a somewhat private personal life; so much of his lifestyle is kept out of the public eye.

He is a cat lover and owned a cat named Bobby Kertanegara. The cat has its own Instagram account, @bobbykertanegara.

Aside from a cat, he also owned 18 horses in his hill estate.

Prabowo also has a deep interest in farming and agriculture. He owns land and businesses in the agricultural sector, focusing on sustainable farming practices.

His love for the land and rural life is well-known, and he frequently talks about the importance of Indonesia’s agricultural sector for the country’s development.

Apart from that, Prabowo is known to be an enthusiastic reader, particularly of history and military strategy. His political speeches and interviews often reflect his knowledge of global military history and geopolitical affairs.

In one of his Facebook posts, Prabowo wrote:

“Hobi saya yang paling utama, adalah membaca sejarah. Ada banyak yang telah, dan masih dapat saya pelajari dari kisah bangsa kita, dan bangsa-bangsa lain.

“Siapa tidak kenal sejarah, dapat mengulang kesalahan yang telah terjadi di masa lalu. Oleh sebab itu, pada masa libur seperti ini saya mengajak sahabat sekalian untuk menggunakan waktu luang membaca sejarah.

“Kenalilah siapa Daan Mogot, siapa Gatot Subroto, siapa Jendral Sudirman, siapa MH Thamrin, siapa Untung Suropati. Kenalilah siapa Bung Tomo, Bung Hatta, Bung Karno dan pemikiran yang mendasari aksi dan idealisme mereka.”

(Reading about history is my main hobby. I have learned a great deal from the histories of our country and other countries, and I still have much to learn.

(Ignorance of history can lead to the perpetuation of historical mistakes. That’s why I encourage all of you to read stories about history in your spare time during this holiday.

(Learn about the identities of Daan Mogot, Gatot Subroto, General Sudirman, MH Thamrin, and Untung Suropati. Also learn about Bung Tomo, Bung Hatta, and Bung Karno, as well as the ideas that guide their behaviour and principles.)

As a former military general, Prabowo has a background in martial arts and enjoys extreme sports such as parachuting and shooting.

In one of its posts, TIME reported that Prabowo is extremely health-conscious; he rises at 6am to swim before beginning his day, listening to rock, classical, or military music on underwater headphones while aides linger nearby to jot down any ideas that spring to mind between laps.

He detests smoking, which can be problematic in a nation where almost three-quarters of the male population lights up. He has even scolded foreign dignitaries who indulge in the habit (the smokers on his team are constantly trying to duck out for a quick puff without being noticed).

He’s obsessed with education and IQ, reeling off the supposed intelligence scores of historical figures.

“Einstein was 200; Napoleon was 180. I’m just 105; I’m not that smart, but I like to use smart people. I have a lot of people working for me with scores of 130 and 140,” Prabowo told TIME.

On top of that, this eighth Indonesian president is known to enjoy traditional Indonesian cuisine.

Some sources suggest that he prefers simple, hearty meals. His favourite dishes reportedly include nasi goreng (fried rice), satay, tempeh (fermented soybeans), and tofu.

All in all, Prabowo’s presidency signals a new chapter for Indonesia as the country navigates critical issues such as economic reform, national security, and sustainable development.

With his deep-rooted interest in agriculture, defence, and infrastructure, many anticipate bold initiatives aimed at propelling Indonesia toward greater self-reliance and regional leadership.

His long journey to the presidency, having contested several elections, reflects his resilience and the trust placed in him by millions of Indonesians who believe in his vision for a stronger, more prosperous nation.

As Prabowo takes office, Indonesia looks ahead to a transformative era under his leadership — one that promises to reshape both domestic policies and the country’s position in global affairs.