Indonesian Army stays neutral during power transition: Chief of Staff

Badung, Bali (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Army Chief of Staff, General Maruli Simanjuntak, emphasized that his ranks maintained their neutrality during the transition from President Joko Widodo’s government to the new administration under President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

“The Army has no problems with the transition. We maintain our neutrality,” Simanjuntak stated on Pandawa Beach in Bali on Friday.

He remarked that the Army always follows the decisions of elected leaders, who are directly elected by the people through general elections.

The Army’s neutrality will guard and ensure the security of the elected president and vice president, he added.

“We do not vote. It is the people’s choice… We remain committed to the people’s choice,” he noted.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) on April 24 announced Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as president- and vice president-elect based on the results of the 2024 presidential election.

Prabowo and Gibran secured 96,214,691 votes, or 58.59 percent of the total national valid votes, and secured at least 20 percent of the votes in all 38 provinces in Indonesia.

The inauguration of the new president and vice president was scheduled for October 20.

Related news: Jokowi lauds Prabowo-Gibran’s initiatives to maintain national unity

Related news: Prabowo thanks President Jokowi for smooth running of elections

Translator: Rolandus Nampu, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2024