Widodo re-elected as Indonesia's president

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Indonesia's incumbent candidate President Joko Widodo won his re-election with 55.5 percent of votes, beating his archrival former army general Prabowo Subianto who obtained 44.5 percent, Indonesia's General Election Commission (KPU) announced on Tuesday.

Joko Widodo's victory was confirmed at 1:46 a.m. after the KPU finished the real counts on votes originated from all polling booths in 34 provinces and 130 cities in foreign countries.

"I hereby decided and set the final KPU decision on results of elections on president and vice president, central parliament members, regional representatives members, provincial parliament members, regency/municipal parliament members in 2019 elections," KPU Chairman Arief Budiman said.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (L) inspects the recovered belongings of passengers of the crashed Lion Air flight JT610 at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

Joko Widodo earned over 85.6 million votes, enabling him to serve as president until 2024 with Ma'ruf Amin as his deputy.

"After we're sworn in... we will be president and vice president," Widodo told reporters in Jakarta with Ma'ruf Amin at his side. "We will be the leaders and protectors of all Indonesians."

Meanwhile, Prabowo Subianto, who ran with young businessman Sandiaga Uno in the election, earned over 68.6 million votes, according to KPU.

Subianto later said he did not accept official election results giving Widodo a second term because he believed there had been cheating in the poll.

He also told reporters he would "continue to make legal efforts in line with the constitution to defend the mandate of the people and the constitutional rights that were seized".

The commission had been expected to announce the official results of the April 17 poll on Wednesday. But amid fears about unrest and street demonstrations, the final tally was released early with little advance notice.

Joko Widodo had been widely predicted to win according to unofficial results. His challenger Prabowo Subianto has vowed to challenge any victory for Widodo, alleging widespread voter fraud, and warning that it could spark street protests.

Head of Indonesia's General Election Commission Arief Budiman talks to the media after a plenary meeting and official announcement of the presidential election results in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 21, 2019. /VCG Photo

Some 32,000 security personnel were deployed across the capital Jakarta, including in front of the General Elections Commission's downtown office which has been barricaded with razor wire.

Last week, police said they had detained about 30 suspected militants with ties to Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), Indonesia's largest group linked to ISIL.

The losing party can lodge a legal challenge at the constitutional court. Otherwise, the commission will officially declare the winner by May 28.

Prabowo Subianto has not yet confirmed if he intends to go to court, but his challenge to his 2014 defeat by Joko Widodo was rejected.

(Cover: Indonesian incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo at the press conference after the general election in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 17, 2019. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency