The final element of uncertainty around Joko Widodo’s election to Indonesia’s presidency is set to clear later Thursday, freeing him to focus on an economy in dire need of reinvention. The country’s Constitutional Court is widely expected to strike down a challenge by Prabowo Subianto, a former army general who ran against Mr. Widodo in July elections and who had alleged voting irregularities. Its decision cannot be appealed. Since hearings to Mr. Subianto’s challenge began earlier this month, his supporters have held rallies in front of the court. Ahead of Thursday’s decision, police fired tear gas and used water cannons on a crowd of thousands of protesters in downtown Jakarta in an attempt to keep them away from the court.
Indonesia has no history of widespread postelection political protest; the losing candidates in presidential elections in 2004 and 2009 unsuccessfully challenged the results with little fanfare. The contentious nature of this election, though, has raised some fears of isolated pockets of unrest, and tens of thousands of police were deployed around the capital Thursday.
The next few weeks until Mr. Widodo assumes the highest post on Oct. 20 are likely to provide more clues to how he will govern. He has catapulted onto the national stage in a manner similar to Barack Obama’s ascent to the White House and the high hopes—as well as apprehensions—around him are similarly weighted.
Full Article: Indonesia Court Expected to Clear Vote Results – WSJ.