TL;DR
Prabowo Subianto transitioned from a fierce presidential rival to a cabinet colleague and successor under Joko Widodo.
Key Points
Prabowo served as the 26th Minister of Defence under President Joko Widodo from October 2019 to October 2024.
He initially disputed Joko Widodo’s victory in the 2014 presidential election before ultimately conceding and joining his cabinet.
For the 2024 presidential election, Prabowo partnered with Joko Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential candidate.
Summary
Prabowo Subianto's relationship with Joko Widodo has significantly evolved from fierce electoral opposition to one of close political collaboration. In the 2014 and 2019 presidential contests, Prabowo challenged Widodo, initially refusing to accept the results of the 2014 election, which he disputed due to claims of widespread cheating. Despite the heated electoral contests, which included protests following the 2019 election, Prabowo joined Widodo's administration in October 2019, accepting the position of Minister of Defence. This move was framed by Widodo as a move for national unity and by Prabowo as a commitment to serve the country.
This partnership saw Prabowo serving as Minister of Defence until October 2024, where he spearheaded military modernization efforts and was appointed to lead strategic projects like the food estate program by the president. The political alignment culminated in the 2024 election, where Prabowo ran for president with Widodo’s eldest son as his vice-presidential candidate, effectively leveraging the popularity and legacy of the outgoing president to secure his own victory. This history marks a complex trajectory from being defeated by Widodo to succeeding him, while integrating his family into the new administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prabowo Subianto currently holds a position of power following his victory in the 2024 presidential election, succeeding Joko Widodo. Before this, he served as Minister of Defence in Widodo's cabinet from 2019 to 2024. This shows a transition from being a political rival to an ally and then a successor.
Prabowo Subianto initially refused to accept the results of the 2014 presidential election where he was defeated by Joko Widodo, citing claims of systematic cheating. However, after the Constitutional Court rejected his appeal, he later conceded and eventually joined Widodo's cabinet.
Following the fiercely contested 2019 election loss to Joko Widodo, Prabowo later conceded and on October 23, 2019, was inaugurated as Minister of Defence. This move was publicly explained by Widodo as a step to preserve national unity.