Indonesia elects new president

Indonesia has finished counting the ballots in its presidential election, which could be the first peaceful transfer of power from one civilian government to another in Indonesian history.

The New York Times reports that Joko Widodo defeated Prabowo Subianto with 53.15 percent of the vote to Subianto's 46.85 percent. The ballots were cast on July 9. Indonesia's General Elections Committee counted and certified the authenticity of the estimated 135 million Indonesians that voted.

Both men represent different aspects of Indonesian society. Subianto is a retired general with close ties to the Suharto military dictatorship that ruled Indonesia for much of its modern history. Those ties are so close that Subianto was once Suharto's son-in-law, according to The Economist. Subianto was also a commander of Indonesia's Special Forces, which have a history of human rights abuses.

Widodo made his name first as the mayor of Solo, and then the governor of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. In his time in both positions he earned allies and admiration because of his competence in the job and lack of corruption, a rare trait in Indonesian politicians and bureaucrats.

While the elections and their run up were peaceful, the Times notes worrying actions taken by Subianto after the votes were tallied. For example, just before the General Elections Committee was about to announce Widodo as the victor, representatives from Subianto's campaign stormed out of the General Elections Committee offices.

Subianto followed up this action with an emotional speech at his campaign headquarters where he said he had withdrawn his candidacy and did not view the results as legitimate. The Times reports that Subianto made allegations of wide ranging voter fraud.

The Elections Committee disputed these claims.

Subianto and his supporters said they would take their case to the Constitutional Court, the only body with the authority to order a recount.