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Prabowo Subianto
Mar 19, 2026 8:30 AM

  

Prabowo Subianto1

  Prabowo Subianto Former general and businessman Prabowo Subianto became Indonesia's eighth president, in October 2024. (more) Prabowo Subianto president of Indonesia Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prabowo-Subianto Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Adam Volle Adam Volle is a freelance writer and editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Adam Volle Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Dec 9, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Born: October 17, 1951, Jakarta, Indonesia (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Prabowo Subiantou2019s background? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Prabowo Subianto is a former Indonesian army general and businessman, born on October 17, 1951, in Jakarta. He was born to a wealthy and politically well-connected family as the third of four children." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was Prabowou2019s role in the Indonesian military? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Prabowo served in the Indonesian army, in which he joined the special forces group Kopassandha and later became its general commander. He was involved in operations in East Timor and Papua and held various high-ranking positions." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What led to Prabowou2019s discharge from the military? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Prabowo was discharged from the military in 1998, supposedly because of his involvement in the abduction and torture of pro-democracy activists during Suhartou2019s rule." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Prabowo transition to politics? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Prabowo entered politics in 2004, initially trying to become the Golkar Partyu2019s presidential candidate. He later founded his own party, the Gerindra Party, and ran for vice president in 2009 and president in 2014 and 2019." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " When did Prabowo become president of Indonesia? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Prabowo became president of Indonesia in October 2024, succeeding Joko Widodo. He had chosen Widodou2019s son as his running mate." } } ] } Top Questions What is Prabowo Subianto’s background? Prabowo Subianto is a former Indonesian army general and businessman, born on October 17, 1951, in Jakarta. He was born to a wealthy and politically well-connected family as the third of four children.

  What was Prabowo’s role in the Indonesian military? Prabowo served in the Indonesian army, in which he joined the special forces group Kopassandha and later became its general commander. He was involved in operations in East Timor and Papua and held various high-ranking positions.

  What led to Prabowo’s discharge from the military? Prabowo was discharged from the military in 1998, supposedly because of his involvement in the abduction and torture of pro-democracy activists during Suharto’s rule.

  How did Prabowo transition to politics? Prabowo entered politics in 2004, initially trying to become the Golkar Party’s presidential candidate. He later founded his own party, the Gerindra Party, and ran for vice president in 2009 and president in 2014 and 2019.

  When did Prabowo become president of Indonesia? Prabowo became president of Indonesia in October 2024, succeeding Joko Widodo. He had chosen Widodo’s son as his running mate.

  Prabowo Subianto (born October 17, 1951, Jakarta, Indonesia) is a former general of the Indonesian army and businessman who is now president of Indonesia (2024– ). Prabowo is the third of four children born to Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, a Javanese economist, and Dora Marie Sigar, a Minahasan woman from Langowan, North Sulawesi. The family was well-off: Prabowo’s grandfather was the cofounder of Bank Negara Indonesia (now BNI), and, at the time of Prabowo’s birth, Sumitro had just finished serving a term as minister of trade and industry for the country’s president, Sukarno. In 1958, however, Prabowo’s father joined the ill-fated PRRI-Permesta ...(100 of 1571 words)

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