Today's Edition
Jakarta (Agencies)
Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated on Sunday as the eighth president of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children at $28 billion.
The 73-year-old took the oath at parliament to officially succeed outgoing leader Joko Widodo.
"I swear that I will fulfil the duties of the president of the Republic of Indonesia as best as possible and as fair as possible," he said.
Prabowo won by a landslide in the first round of the February vote, helped by the support of his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 37-year-old son of Widodo, and bold campaign pledges including a $28 billion free meal plan for children.
The former defence minister, dressed in traditional attire, gave an emotional speech to lawmakers who applauded him and chanted his name.
He promised that all of Indonesia's natural resources would be managed for the greater good of the people.
For the next five years, under his leadership, Prabowo outlined his vision for Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency and become a global food supplier.
Tens of thousands lined the streets of Jakarta as Prabowo became Indonesia's eighth leader since the country achieved independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945.
Leaders and officials from over 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea, China, Australia, and several Southeast Asian nations, attended the oath-taking ceremony.
