JAKARTA - Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto on April 23 vowed to fight for all Indonesians and called for unity among political elites to take the country forward, as he seeks to strengthen his parliamentary clout ahead of taking office in October.

Speaking at a ceremony where he was confirmed as the winner of the Feb 14 election, he said he was talking to elites in the country and it was vital for parties to get along for the common good.

Mr Prabowo, who was tacitly backed by popular incumbent Joko Widodo and won by a huge margin, is seeking to broaden his coalition in the new Parliament and is in talks with parties who backed his election rivals.

“I will prove that I will fight for all Indonesians, including those who did not vote for me,” he said. “If Indonesia wants to survive, becoming a prosperous country, all elites must work together. If we dare to leave our differences aside... let’s leave our feelings, let’s find our love for the country, let’s sacrifice together for our people.”

The confirmation comes two days after the Constitutional Court rejected challenges from both losing candidates seeking a rerun of the presidential election and the disqualification of Mr Prabowo and his running mate, ending all election disputes.

Mr Prabowo vowed to end poverty and corruption, saying he intends to bring improvement to all Indonesians. He said a free press was vital in Indonesia, describing it as “the absolute requirement for democracy”.

Defence Minister Prabowo’s current alliance comprises 48 per cent of the seats in Parliament, but his senior aides said he aims to expand his coalition to secure a majority of seats.

Since the election, Mr Prabowo has met parties outside his coalition, including the chiefs of NasDem and the PKB, which supported the presidential bid of Mr Anies Baswedan, one of the losing candidates and an ex-governor of the capital Jakarta.

Securing the support of either party would create a majority coalition for Mr Prabowo, mirroring Mr Joko’s current governing coalition that comprises eight out of the nine parties in Parliament.

PDIP, which supported the other losing candidate, Mr Ganjar Pranowo, will remain the biggest party in Parliament following the election.

Mr Prabowo’s Gerinda party, the third largest party in Parliament following the election, said on April 22 he intends to meet PDIP chief Megawati Sukarnoputri.

PDIP said this week that Mr Joko was no longer one of its members due to his support for Mr Prabowo, which was widely interpreted as a move by the president to retain political influence and preserve his legacy after a decade at the helm. REUTERS