Rival protests as Widodo re-elected in Indonesia

Thousands of soldiers fanned out across Jakarta yesterday after the surprise early announcement of official results in Indonesia’s election showed Joko Widodo re-elected leader of the world’s third-biggest democracy. The election commission had been due to give the final tally of the divisive poll today, but the results were revealed early yesterday with little advance notice amid fears of unrest. Presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, meanwhile, rejected the results but called for supporters to remain calm and said his camp would pursue “legal avenues”. Subianto’s legal director was quoted by Indonesian media as saying a formal appeal would be filed at the Constitutional Court. Subianto unsuccessfully challenged Widodo’s 2014 victory over him at the same court.