Indonesia: Presidential inauguration scheduled in Jakarta on October 20

Event

President Jokowi Widodo's inauguration will be held at the parliament building in Jakarta on the afternoon (local time) of Sunday, October 20.

Heightened security measures, including the deployment of 30,000 military and security personnel, and increased checkpoints are expected in key areas across Jakarta. Localized traffic disruptions are expected during the ceremony. Police announced on Tuesday, October 15, that demonstrations will be banned on Sunday.

Context

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was elected for a second term with 55.5 percent of the vote in elections held in April. He has served as president since 2014.

Large protests erupted in Jakarta following the announcement of the election's official results on May 22 and a lawsuit was filed by presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto claiming fraud. During the protests 30 people were killed, 300 injured, 250 arrested, and social media platforms were banned for several days.

Following the attack on October 10, on the country's security minister the police arrested 22 suspected militants as of October 15, as well as stepped up security measures ahead of the inauguration.

Advice

Individuals in Jakarta are advised to avoid all political events as a precaution, allow additional time to travel, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.