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Prabowo Subianto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 October 1951 Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Political orientation | Indonesians nationalism |
| Political party | Gerindra |
Prabowo Subianto Joyohadikusumu (born 17 October 1951) is an Indonesian politician, businessman, and former military officer who has served as the eighth president of Indonesia since 2024. He previously served as minister of defense under President Joko Widodo from 2019 to 2024 and has served as General Chairman of the Gerindra Party since 2014. As a military officer he was a key supporter of the former dictator Suharto, and is also Suharto's former son-in-law.
Military career[edit | edit source]
East Timor[edit | edit source]
Prabowo commanded the unit that murdered East Timor's first prime minister, Nicolau Lobato, in 1978. In 1983, he undermined a peace process between the Indonesian military and future Timorese president Xanana Gusmão. In 1985, he attended the School of the Americas.[1]
West Papua[edit | edit source]
In 1996, Prabowo hired South African mercenaries while fighting against West Papuan independence fighters. After releasing international researchers who had been taken hostage, they killed up to 200 civilians.[1]
Political career[edit | edit source]
In 2020, President Joko Widodo appointed Prabowo as Defense Minister of Indonesia. He has run for other elected offices but has never won before.[1]
He ran for the Gerindra party against Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo in the 2024 presidential election.[1]