Prabowo Urges Supporters to Refrain from Protests at Constitutional Court

Prabowo Subianto, the president-elect of Indonesia, has urged his supporters to cancel a planned street protest on Friday in anticipation of the Constitutional Court's verdict on the lawsuit challenging the results of the presidential election. Haris Rusli Moti, the head of a pro-Prabowo group, said that Prabowo had directly called on his supporters to respect the ongoing legal process at the Constitutional Court and not to place political pressure on the justices handling the election dispute.

Prabowo expressed concerns that the protest could lead to social conflicts and uncontrollable chaos. He emphasized the need to maintain calm in democracy, uphold national unity and integrity, and preserve harmony among the Indonesian people. Prabowo denied allegations of the misuse of social assistance and the deployment of law enforcement officials to win the election, calling these accusations cruel and unfounded.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to issue its verdict on the election dispute filed by losing presidential candidates Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, who have called for a revote and the disqualification of Prabowo's running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Analysts expect the court to uphold the official results of the General Elections Commission (KPU), which declared Prabowo and Gibran as the winning pair of the February 14 election.

Prabowo urged his supporters to be vigilant and not be provoked by any parties seeking an unpeaceful or unrestful atmosphere. The Constitutional Court has tightened security measures in the building area ahead of the announcement of the verdict on the 2024 Presidential Election dispute, which is scheduled for April 22.

Originally, the volunteers, voters, and supporters of Prabowo-Gibran were planning to hold a peaceful demonstration in front of the Constitutional Court building in response to accusations that their votes were influenced by social assistance. However, Prabowo asked them to prioritize the integrity and unity of the Indonesian nation and refrain from taking mass action at the court building.

In his appeal to the 96.2 million supporters who voted for him, Prabowo reiterated that they should prioritize the interests of the people and the nation to maintain the unity and integrity of Indonesia. He urged them to remain calm, cool, and peaceful, and not to be provoked, as he understands their disturbance and reaction to the allegations against his campaign.

The Constitutional Court's verdict on the election dispute will be a crucial moment for Indonesia's democracy. The court's decision will determine whether the official results declaring Prabowo and Gibran as the winners will stand or if a revote will be necessary. Prabowo's call for his supporters to respect the legal process and refrain from protests demonstrates his commitment to maintaining stability and unity in the country during this sensitive time.

Key Takeaways

• Prabowo urges supporters to cancel protest ahead of court verdict on election dispute.
• Prabowo denies allegations of misusing social assistance and deploying officials to win.
• Court expected to uphold official results declaring Prabowo and Gibran as winners.
• Prabowo calls for calm, unity, and respect for legal process during sensitive time.
• Court's verdict will determine if official results stand or if a revote is necessary.