A wealthy former general with ties to Indonesia’s dictatorial past will be sworn in as leader on Sunday.

A wealthy former general with ties to Indonesia’s popular outgoing president and the country’s dictatorial past will be sworn in as leader on Sunday.
He has vowed to continue his predecessor’s widely popular policies, but his record on human rights has left activists and some analysts worried about the future of democracy in Indonesia.
In the February election, Prabowo Subianto, 73, was presented as the heir to the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, the first Indonesian president to emerge from the political and military elite. Subianto, who was defense minister at the time, promised to continue the modernization program that brought rapid growth and pushed Indonesia into the ranks of middle-income countries.
In a speech last month, Subianto, who is also the chairman of the Gerindra Party, reminded party members to always remain loyal to the nation, not to him. He also pledged his unwavering commitment to protect the people, even at the cost of his life. “When you feel I’m on the wrong path, please let me go,” Subianto said. “My life, my oath… I want to die for the truth, I want to die to defend my people, I want to die to defend the poor, I want to die to defend the honor of the Indonesian nation. I have no doubt.”