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Comment by chilling | Hacker News Reader

Modern history of Indonesia is also brutal, strange and very hard to grasp and accept. Just 6 months ago, a new generation choose a murderer, linked with previous coup as their new president because he was looking cute and post dancing videos on tiktok.

[I live in Indonesia as an expact]

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As an Indonesian, I have to admit that most of our people are susceptible to cheap but clever personal branding. Before running on 2024 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto (the elected president) was imaged as a firm and authoritative former general. But, when he run on the presidential election, he changed his personal image to be a "gemoy" (a slang for chubby and cute kid/baby) and even dancing around with his supporter, something that he never do on his past election. His pairing with Gibran (the son of Joko Widodo, the current president of Indonesia) also gave some factor to his winning the election.

"I have to admit that most of our people are susceptible to cheap but clever personal branding"

Just saw this in Wikipedia: "When a UN delegation arrived in Jakarta on 8 September, they were told by Habibie that reports of bloodshed in East Timor were "fantasies" and "lies". General Wiranto of the Indonesian military insisted that his soldiers had the situation under control, and later expressed his emotion for East Timor by singing the 1975 hit song "Feelings" at an event for military wives."

What do people there vote for? Is it identities or is it pressing issues or propaganda or what?

Well, it is just my opinion, but I am sure the reality is not that far off. I think the majority are voting based on the popularity of the candidate. Some people I know choose candidates based on which candidate has the most support in the surrounding community. They just follow the people's choices without finding out about the programs promoted by the candidates they choose.

That would be Prabowo Subianto, formed US-trained special forces commander implicated with a whole bunch of murder in East Timor, Papua and in the final days of Suharto's regime.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabowo_Subianto

To be fair, Indonesia is hardly alone as a republic to have elected an appalling character for a leader. If anything, they're somewhat late to this past decade's wave.

Late?

They were early adopters of appalling character leaders, Suharto was elected in 1968 after seizing power and self appointing in 1967.

He was repeatedly elected for thirty years (with varying amounts of opposition and rigging during those decades).

I meant specifically the contemporary populist wave since Brexit or so.

I think it's easy to see Brexit and Trump as the start of this in retrospect, but it goes back further; Burlusconi is a particularly glaring example.

Berlusconi is a perfect precursor to this type of character. But I'd say Conte and the Five Star Movement is far more populist and part of a global wave than Bunga-Bunga was.

When someone points to something in the 60’s, it’s time to admit that your presumption that this is part of some outside wave might not be accurate.

But that someone is wrong. Pointing out past strongmen (which both Suharto- and Sukarno, really, were) have led Indonesia in the distant past is not the same as Subianto being democratically elected into office and replacing the mainstream Widodo and ending the Era Reformasi. Subianto exists in the same company as Duterte, Modi, Erdogan, Bolsonaro, Meloni, Milei; 2010s and onwards figures.

"elected"

You left out the bit where he murdered over a million or so unarmed civilians for possibly being communists.

The election was just for show, he held absolute power those days.

Thanks for the disclaimer. I’m not gonna put any weight to an expat saying that someone chose someone Because He Was (Looking) Cute.

my disclaimer was supposed to mean: I live here, I am interested in the current and past history of this country, I am involved, I have an Indonesian partner and Indonesian friends, but you have your right to seek the truth for yourself, which I strongly encourage you to do.

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