Prabowo Subianto officially declared as Indonesian president

Indonesia president-elect Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday vowed to fight for all Indonesians and called for unity among political elites to take the country forward, as he seeks to strengthen his parliamentary clout ahead of taking office in October.

Speaking at a ceremony where he was being confirmed as the winner of the Feb. 14 election, Prabowo, who won by a huge margin, said he was talking to elites in the country and it was vital parties could get along together for the common good.

Prabowo, who was tacitly backed by popular incumbent Joko Widodo, is seeking to broaden his coalition in the new parliament and is in talks with parties who backed his election rivals.

"I will prove that I will fight for all Indonesians, including those who did not vote for me," Prabowo said.

"If Indonesia wants to survive, becoming a prosperous country, all elites must work together. If we dare to leave our differences aside, let's leave our feelings, let's find our love for the country, let's sacrifice together for our people."

The confirmation comes two days after the Constitutional Court rejected challenges from both losing candidates seeking a re-run of the presidential election and the disqualification of Prabowo and his running mate, ending all election disputes.

In his speech, Prabowo vowed to end poverty and corruption, adding he intends to bring improvement to all Indonesians.

He also said a free press was vital in Indonesia, describing it as "the absolute requirement for democracy".

Defence Minister's Prabowo's current alliance comprises 48 per cent of seats in the parliament but his seniors aides have said that he aims to expand his coalition to secure a majority of seats.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's biggest party on Tuesday confirmed that outgoing President Joko Widodo and his son, incoming vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are no longer members of the party after they backed rival candidate and election winner Prabowo Subianto.

Their exit will put the spotlight on the next moves for the popular Jokowi, as the outgoing president is known, whose backing for Defence Minister Prabowo was widely interpreted as a move to retain political influence and preserve his legacy after a decade at the helm.

Komarudin Watubun, who heads the ethical division of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), said Jokowi and Gibran were not expelled but ceased to be members when they decided not to endorse PDIP's presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo.

Helped by Jokowi's tacit endorsement and with Gibran as running mate, Prabowo won by a huge margin in the Feb. 14 election, taking 58 per cent of the vote compared to Ganjar's 16 per cent.

"They decided to be on the opposite side," Komaruddin told Reuters. "Regardless of what happened, Jokowi reached the highest career level in the party, he has become president. We want to preserve his dignity," he said.

The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jokowi joined PDIP in 2004 to run for mayor of Surakarta and won two terms. He was later elected Jakarta governor and became president for two terms with PDIP's backing. Gibran has also served as Surakarta mayor since 2020.

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Jokowi's backing of Prabowo has created tension between him and PDIP, which will remain the biggest party in parliament following the election.

Jokowi has yet to discuss his political plans but according to several sources, he wants to take over the second-biggest party, Golkar, a move that could see him retain sizable influence and potentially counterbalance that of old rival Prabowo when he takes office in October.

Prabowo's current coalition comprises 48 per cent of seats and senior aides have said he aims to expand that to command a majority. Several parties, such as Nasdem, which backed another candidate, have already held talks with Prabowo.

Speculation is also rife that PDIP chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri, a political heavyweight, could soon meet Prabowo to discuss joining his coalition amid the ongoing rift with Jokowi.