Indonesian court rejects first of 2 petitions seeking election re-run

JAKARTA — An Indonesian court on Monday (April 22) rejected in full a challenge from losing candidate Anies Baswedan seeking a re-run of February's presidential election and the disqualification of winner Prabowo Subianto and his running mate.

The Constitutional Court ruled that there was no evidence of systematic fraud and presidential "meddling", nor that state bodies, regional officials and social assistance had been mobilised to sway polls in the world's third-largest democracy.

"The plaintiff's petition has no legal basis in its entirety," said Chief Justice Suhartoyo, announcing the decision.

Five judges ruled in favour of rejecting the petition, with three dissenting opinions, he said.

Losing presidential candidates Anies and Ganjar Pranowo have both separately alleged there was state interference to favour Defence Minister Prabowo, who won by a huge margin, and had complained his running mate, the current president's 36-year-old son, should not have been allowed to take part.

The administration and Prabowo had rejected the allegations.

The judges are expected to read their decision on Ganjar's petition later on Monday.

The rivals of former special forces commander Prabowo had sought his disqualification arguing the government's widespread distribution of social aid, including handouts of rice, cash and fertiliser, in key areas had swayed the vote in his favour.

Cabinet members in court denied that the aid swayed voters and Prabowo, who won 58 per cent of the vote, has dismissed the claim as baseless.

Judge Saldi Isra, who cast one of three dissenting votes on Monday, agreed that social assistance had been wielded for electoral advantage and argued for a re-vote in some areas.

"Based on the legal and factual