Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as Indonesia’s eighth president on Sunday, succeeding Joko Widodo who led the country for ten years and vowed to be “the leader of all Indonesians”.
The inauguration ceremony was held in Jakarta with the presence of foreign dignitaries.
Prabowo, who served as defense minister in Jokowi’s cabinet, won the election by a landslide in February.
After the inauguration, Prabowo (73) went to the presidential palace, where he was met by the outgoing president.
In an emotional inaugural speech, the president promised to be “a leader of all Indonesians,” regardless of political differences, and to fight for the protection and well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable groups.
The retired army general cited national unity and food security as top priorities of his administration.
Promising that all of Indonesia’s natural resources will be managed for the greater good of the masses, he vowed to continue his predecessor’s policies, including the industrialization of mining products and a ban on the export of raw minerals and ores.
His vice president, 37-year-old Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi’s son, was also sworn in as vice president, AA writes.
Photo: EastAsia Forum
