Former special forces commander Prabowo to take up Indonesian presidency

JAKARTA - Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto on Oct 20 will take over as president of the world's third-largest democracy after sweeping the country's election with policies like free meals for school children and with the outgoing leader's son as his running mate.

The 73-year-old former special forces commander won the Feb 14 contest with nearly 60 per cent of the vote and has spent the past nine months building a formidable parliamentary coalition.

Prabowo will officially become Indonesia's eighth president in the morning after he is sworn in during a ceremony at Indonesia's parliament, flanked by outgoing President Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he is popularly known.

Prabowo, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice before, is expected to give a speech to lawmakers at the parliament's upper house after the swearing-in and before heading to the presidential palace.

He will be joined by his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, the eldest son of Widodo.

As they make their way to the palace, they will be greeted by thousands of supporters who are expected to throng Jakarta's streets, which have been lined with posters of the incoming leader.

Prabowo and Gibran are expected to stop at seven stages that have been set up along the way between parliament and the palace, Nusron Wahid, a Prabowo aide, told reporters on Oct 18.

Widodo's supporters are also expected to attend the celebrations and bid farewell to Indonesia's outgoing leader.

After two terms and a decade in power, he has left an indelible mark on the nation of 280 million, presiding over a period of strong economic growth and massive infrastructure development.

Critics also say, though, his rule has been marked by a rise in old-time patronage and dynastic