Indonesia president congratulates poll winner Prabowo, markets cheer

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said on Thursday he had congratulated Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto after unofficial counts showed the ex-special forces commander winning this week’s presidential election in a single round of voting.

“I have, in person last night,” the president, popularly known as Jokowi, told reporters when asked if he had congratulated Prabowo and his running mate.

Prabowo’s running mate is Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is set to be the youngest vice president in Indonesia’s history.

Prabowo, 72, declared a “victory for all Indonesians” before jubilant supporters late on Wednesday, after so-called quick ballot counts by independent pollsters - accurate in past elections - showed he had won nearly 60 percent of votes.