But Widodo appointed Subianto as defense chief after his reelection, paving the way for an alliance despite their rival political parties. Backed by Widodo, Subianto swept to a landslide victory in February’s direct presidential election on promises of policy continuity. Subianto was sworn in with his new vice president, 37-year-old Surakarta ex-Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Leaders and senior officials from more than 30 countries flew in to attend the ceremony, including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and leaders of Southeast Asia countries. Indonesia is a bastion of democracy in Southeast Asia, a diverse and economically bustling region of authoritarian governments, police states and nascent democracies.

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Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Subianto, Prabowo, Gibran, ”, Atalaric Eka, “, Joko Widodo, Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Raka, don’t, Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al, Hussein, Nancy Namrouqa, Abdullah, Han Zheng, Joe Biden, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Adm, Samuel Paparo, ” Subianto, Suharto Organizations: Widodo, Southeast Asia —, Foreign, U.S, United Nations, Pacific Command, American, Army Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta, Surakarta, Southeast Asia, Jordan, Jordanian, Amman, Gaza, Subianto, Asia, United States, China, U.S, Australia, Indonesian, Borneo