Indonesia swears in Prabowo Subianto as the country's eighth president

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated Sunday as the eighth president of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, completing his journey from an ex-general accused of rights abuses during the dark days of Indonesia’s military dictatorship to the presidential palace.

The former defense minister, who turned 73 on Thursday, was cheered through the streets by thousands of waving supporters after taking his oath on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in front of lawmakers and foreign dignitaries. Banners and billboards to welcome the new president filled the streets of the capital, Jakarta, where tens of thousands gathered for festivities including speeches and musical performances along the city’s major throughfare.

Wearing a blue Betawi traditional cloth and a dark baseball cap, Subianto stood up in the sunroof of a white van and waved, occasionally shaking peoples' hands, as his motorcade struggled to pass through the thousands of supporters calling his name and chanting “Good luck Prabowo-Gibran,” filling the road leading from the parliament building to the presidential palace.

“I see a firm and patriotic figure in him,” said Atalaric Eka Prayoga, a 25-year-old Jakarta resident. “That’s a figure we need to lead Indonesia.”

“I have high hopes that he can build Indonesia to be more advanced and improve the current gloomy economic situation,” said another resident, Silky Putri.

Subianto was a longtime rival of the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, who ran against him for the presidency twice and refused to accept his defeat on both occasions, in 2014 and 2019.

But Widodo appointed Subianto as defense chief after his reelection, paving the way for an alliance despite their rival political parties. During the campaign, Subianto ran as the popular outgoing president’s heir, vowing to continue signature policies like the construction of a multibillion-dollar new capital city and limits on exporting raw materials intended to boost domestic industry.

Backed by Widodo, Subianto swept to a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election on promises of policy continuity.

Subianto was sworn in with his new vice president, 37-year-old Surakarta ex-Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka. He chose Raka, who is Widodo’s son, as his running mate, with Widodo favoring Subianto over the candidate of his own former party. The former rivals became tacit allies, even though Indonesian presidents don’t typically endorse candidates.

But how he’ll govern the biggest economy in Southeast Asia — where nearly 90% of Indonesia’s 282 million people are Muslims — remains uncertain after a campaign in which he made few concrete promises besides continuity with the popular former president.

Subianto, who comes from one of the country’s wealthiest families, is a sharp contrast to Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from outside the political and military elite who came from a humble background and as president often mingled with working-class crowds.

Subianto was a special forces commander until he was expelled by the army in 1998 over accusations that he played a role in the kidnappings and torture of activists and other abuses. He never faced trial and went into self-imposed exile in Jordan in 1998, although several of his underlings were tried and convicted.

Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein was expected to attend Sunday’s ceremony, but canceled at the last minute because of escalating Middle East tensions, instead deciding to send Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Namrouqa as his special envoy. Subianto and Abdullah met in person in June for talks in Amman on humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war in Gaza.

Subianto, who has never held elective office, will lead a massive, diverse archipelago nation whose economy has boomed amid strong global demand for its natural resources. But he’ll have to contend with global economic distress and regional tensions in Asia, where territorial conflicts and the United States-China rivalry loom large.

Leaders and senior officials from more than 30 countries flew in to attend the ceremony, including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of Southeast Asia countries. U.S. President Joe Biden sent Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Adm. Samuel Paparo, the U.S. Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, was also among the American delegation.

Army troops and police, along with armored vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances, were deployed across the capital, and major roads were closed to secure the swearing-in.

The election outcome capped a long comeback for Subianto, who was banned for years from traveling to the United States and Australia.

He has vowed to continue Widodo’s modernization efforts, which have boosted Indonesia’s economic growth by building infrastructure and leveraging the country’s abundant resources. A signature policy required nickel, a major Indonesian export and a key component of electric car batteries, to be processed in local factories rather than exported raw.

He has also promised to push through Widodo’s most ambitious and controversial project: the construction of a new capital on Borneo, about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away from congested Jakarta.

A rousing speaker, Subianto railed against widespread corruption in his inauguration speech, saying many people are unbale to get jobs, children are malnourished and their schools are not well maintained.

“Too many of our brothers and sisters are below the poverty line, too many of our children go to school without breakfast and do not have clothes for school," Subianto said.

Before February’s presidential election, he also promised to provide free school lunches and milk to 78.5 million students at more than 400,000 schools across the country, aiming to reduce malnutrition and stunted growth among children.

“We must dare to see all of this and we must dare to solve all of these problems,” Subianto said Sunday.

He also pledged to continue a non-aligned foreign policy and to be a good neighbor.

“We will stand against all colonialism and we will defend the interests of oppressed people worldwide,” Subianto said.

Indonesia is a bastion of democracy in Southeast Asia, a diverse and economically bustling region of authoritarian governments, police states and nascent democracies. After decades of dictatorship under President Suharto, the country was convulsed by political, ethnic and religious unrest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, it has consolidated its democratic transition as the world’s third-largest democracy, and is home to a rapidly expanding middle class.

Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko contributed to this report.

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, left, and former Indonesian President Joko Widodo salute during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto takes the oath during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

An Indonesia take picture with his cellphone as others watch from a giant screen of Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speech in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Picture of Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are seen on a giant screen outside a building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, center, greets supporters after being sworn in as the country's eighth president in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, center left in a vehicle, greets supporters after being sworn in as the country's eighth president in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo, salutes during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, center, salutes as he greets supporters after being sworn in as the country's eighth president in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesian sales souvenir with picture of Newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesia's Newly-inaugurated vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo, takes the oath during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesia's newly-inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech during the presidential inauguration ceremony at the Parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

FILE- Retired Indonesian Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, former leader of the elite Kopassus special forces, tells his side of the story during his first news conference since his return to Jakarta, May 9, 2000, where he denied masterminding the May 1998 riots and violence in Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

Soldiers walk in front of a banner showing Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto, waves to media as he leave for inauguration ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Soldiers sit next to a banner showing Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesian supporters waves Indonesia flag and hold banner show Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, and vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto, waves to media as he leave for inauguration ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

BENGALURU, India (AP) — New Zealand weathered a nery chase and a superb spell by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah to win its first test on Indian soil since 1988.

New Zealand made 110-2 on a rain-affected final day on Sunday to beat India by eight wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Will Young and Rachin Ravindra shared a 75-run partnership for the third wicket to complete a famous victory after rain had again intervened early in the morning session.

Young finished unbeaten on 48 runs off 76 balls, scoring six fours and a six, while Ravindra was 39 not out off 46 deliveries, hitting six fours.

Bumrah finished with 2-29 after a stunning spell that removed both Black Caps openers and also beat the outside edge of the batters time and again, but couldn't find the luck India desperately needed to make inroads into the Kiwis batting order.

After the first day was washed out, India was then bowled out for its lowest test score at home in its first innings – 46 runs on day two. It rebounded with 462 runs in the second innings, but New Zealand’s first innings’ effort of 402 runs — with 134 from Ravindra — had the tourists in the ascendancy throughout.

Earlier Sunday, play started an hour late due to a morning shower in Bengaluru.

Bumrah trapped captain Tom Latham lbw for a duck on the second ball of the morning. Latham reviewed, but the TV umpire decision went against him.

It was a tough opening spell for the batters, with Devon Conway never looking comfortable against Bumrah. He was out lbw for 17 runs in the 13th over as New Zealand was reduced to 35-2.

But Young and Ravindra calmed the nerves of the tourists' dressing room with their attacking intent and fine stroke play.

Once Bumrah’s spell was over, they settled down and attacked the Indian spinners. Kuldeep Yadav went for 8.7 runs per over in his short spell and Ravindra Jadeja didn't fare much better.

The pair put on 50 off 51 balls to lift New Zealand to the target 10 minutes prior to lunch in the extended morning session when Young played a cut shot for four off Jadeja.

The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting Thursday and the final match is in Mumbai from Nov. 1.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The ball hits the helmet of New Zealand's Will Young as he attempts to play a shot on a delivery by India's Ravindra Jadeja during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Virat Kohli, left, reacts as New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, right, bats during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's captain Rohit Sharma looks at the ball before passing it to his teammate Jasprit Bumrah during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, right, and Will Young run between the wickets to score during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Virat Kohli, third left, talks to his teammates after bad light stopped play on the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Jasprit Bumrah, right, celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli after the dismissal of New Zealand's captain Tom Latham during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's Jasprit Bumrah appeals for the wicket of New Zealand's Devon Conway before asking for a successful review during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra plays a shot during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

The ball hits the helmet of New Zealand's Will Young as he attempts to play a shot on a delivery by India's Ravindra Jadeja during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

New Zealand's Will Young hits a boundary during the day five of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India's captain Rohit Sharma reacts as he leaves the field after their loss against New Zealand on the day five of the first cricket test match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

New Zealand's Will Young, left, and Rachin Ravindra celebrate after their win against India on the day five of the first cricket test match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)