Prabowo Subianto, an ex-military commander and former son-in-law of Indonesian dictator Suharto, is finally on his way to the presidency. During the campaign season, Prabowo drummed up the promise that he would continue Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s policies, including the promise of nickel-for-battery developments. Lo and behold, it worked. Unofficial early counts show that Prabowo won by 58%, an easy victory.
During his long and bloody career, Prabowo has crafted a “strongman” image for himself. Although this election saw him rebranded as a “cuddly grandpa”, the strongman image remains an important appeal to his supporter base. Indonesia is an impossible country, the belief goes, and only the strongest leader can make things possible.
