Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo finally congratulates Joko Widodo

Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (left) said on Friday his party would support President-elect Joko Widodo (right), but would not hesitate to criticise any of his policies that they opposed. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (left) said on Friday his party would support President-elect Joko Widodo (right), but would not hesitate to criticise any of his policies that they opposed. -- PHOTO: AFP

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said on Friday his party would support President-elect Joko Widodo, but would not hesitate to criticise any of his policies that they opposed.

Mr Prabowo met Mr Joko the first time publicly since the former Jakarta governor was declared the winner of Indonesia's July 9 presidential election, the closest ever. Mr Joko takes office on Monday.

"I conveyed that the party I lead, my supporters, I will ask them to support Joko Widodo and the government he will lead," he told reporters after their meeting in Jakarta. "When there are things that we judge to be not for the benefit of the people...we will not hesitate to criticise."

Mr Prabowo, who is a former general, congratulated Mr Joko and saluted him after the press conference. "Our objectives are the same ... everything will be done for the good of the nation," Mr Widodo told reporters.

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