Signs of tension emerge between Indonesian leader and successor

Both appear locked in a power struggle amid series of awkward public incidents

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

JAKARTA Signs of tension between Indonesia's outgoing President Joko Widodo and incoming president Prabowo Subianto have emerged, the local media reported, citing a series of awkward incidents witnessed by the public earlier in March.

While it has been the case following each of the past four presidential polls that power naturally transitioned from the outgoing president to the incoming successor, that does not appear to be the case this time round.

With the official votes tallied Mr Prabowo and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of Mr Widodo, won almost 60 per cent of the ballots cast - the rousing support that Mr Widodo once exhibited for his successor has seemingly faded.

Mr Prabowo is slated to be inaugurated in October. While Mr Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, will be stepping down from the post after a decade in power, both men appear to be locked in a power struggle, with the local media highlighting several incidents hinting at an uneasy relationship.

Calling attention to an incident during a charity event at the presidential palace on March 13, Jakarta-based television station KompasTV reported in an evening news update on March 22 that Mr Widodo had shaken hands with all the in attendance, ministers passed over Mr Prabowo.

but After a series of handshakes, Mr Widodo turned to his left away from Mr Prabowo, who stood a few steps in front of Mr Widodo and looked towards the President momentarily before he also stepped away. Mr Prabowo was the only one in the room in a white shirt, while everyone else wore traditional batik shirts.

KompasTV is affiliated with the nation's oldest newspaper, Kompas.

A week later on March 20, during a news update on Mr Prabowo's victory speech after the official result was announced, KompasTV noted that Mr Gibran, the vice president-elect, was conspicuously absent during the occasion.