Indonesia election: Prabowo's constant drama in bad faith?

Former army general repeats claims in rematch with rival

Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto, speaking to supporters outside his Jakarta residence last Friday, is dismissing unofficial quick counts and claiming he has won the election before the election commission has announced official results.
Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto, speaking to supporters outside his Jakarta residence last Friday, is dismissing unofficial quick counts and claiming he has won the election before the election commission has announced official results. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
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As Indonesia awaits the official results of its elections, discussions are continuing over why presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto is creating the same drama as that five years ago when he lost to the same rival Joko Widodo.

Mr Prabowo's early claim that he won last Wednesday's presidential election and his dismissal of unofficial quick counts - that were proven accurate in the past three presidential polls - have evoked a feeling of deja vu among many here.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 24, 2019, with the headline Indonesia election: Prabowo's constant drama in bad faith?. Subscribe