Indonesia presidential candidate Anies files court challenge to election result

JAKARTA — Losing Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan filed a legal case at the constitutional court on Thursday (March 21) to challenge the outcome of an election won overwhelmingly by Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Anies, a former Jakarta governor, said the aim of the case was to ensure democracy was improved and said there were many problems with the election that needed to be corrected.

Anies declined to concede after the results were released on Wednesday and his team has alleged the current administration had unfairly sought to influence the contest, which authorities have rejected.

Official results showed ex-special forces commander Prabowo Subianto, who was tacitly backed by the hugely popular incumbent President Joko Widodo, won with almost 60 per cent of the vote, followed by Anies with 25 per cent, and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo with 16 per cent.

"The process and result are both as important. When there is a problematic process, there will be problematic results." Anies told a press conference.

"From the policy aspect, regulations, down to the execution (of the election) there were many problems and we want those corrected so they are not repeated."

The Anies team has complained about the widespread allocation of social assistance, such as rice, fertiliser and cash handouts, in key electoral areas, which they said influenced the vote. The administration has rejected that.

They have also criticised the Constitutional Court's last-minute decision last year to change election rules, which allowed the president's son to become Prabowo's running mate.

The court's chief justice at the time was Widodo's brother-in-law.

The judge was reprimanded by an ethics panel for intentionally