Jokowi faces backlash over support for Prabowo's presidential bid
JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo is facing mounting backlash over his support for Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto ahead of Indonesia's presidential election next week, as academic communities join growing critics accusing the president of undermining democracy.
Over the past week, academics from dozens of universities in Indonesia have called out Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, for controversial moves seen aimed at supporting the election bid of Prabowo, 72, his former rival and the current frontrunner in Indonesia's presidential race.