Jakarta. Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as Indonesia’s eighth president on Sunday, achieving a long-sought personal milestone after multiple attempts to secure the country’s highest office since direct presidential elections were introduced in 2004.

“In the name of God, I solemnly promise to execute the office of the president of the Republic of Indonesia to the best of my ability and with justice, to uphold the Constitution, to implement laws and regulations faithfully, and to dedicate myself to the nation,” Prabowo declared during his oath.

Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka echoed the same words in his own oath. Both men wore traditional Betawi attire, featuring black suits paired with sarongs, for the historic occasion.

"Starting today, Mr. Haji Prabowo Subianto and Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka become the president and the vice president of the Republic of Indonesia. I respectfully request the audience to give thunderous applause to them," People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Ahmad Muzani said to a standing ovation from the crowd. "They will serve this nation until October 20, 2029."

Prabowo's journey to the presidency has been a long one. He first sought the presidential nomination from the Golkar Party ahead of the inaugural direct election in 2004, but the party ultimately selected Jusuf Kalla as the running mate of then-candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

In 2009, Prabowo ran as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Megawati Soekarnoputri, but the pair lost to SBY.

Prabowo made his own bids for the presidency in 2014 and 2019, but was defeated by Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in both elections.

During the start of his second term in 2019, Jokowi included Prabowo in his cabinet as the defense minister in a conciliatory gesture and implicitly backed his former rival's presidential bid by allowing his son, Gibran, to become Prabowo's running mate in the February 14 presidential election.

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