President says he has won a second term, defeating challenger Prabowo Subianto

The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, has announced he has won re-election after receiving an estimated 54% of the vote, backtracking on his promise to wait for official results after his challenger made improbable claims of victory.

Widodo, after meeting with parties in his coalition, told reporters the leaders of Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and other countries had congratulated him on securing a second term.

Former army general say he is ‘the president of all Indonesians’ but credible surveys put Joko Widodo in the lead

Ex-army general Prabowo Subianto has controversially claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election, despite unofficial results from more than half a dozen credible pollsters indicating that incumbent Joko Widodo has comfortably won.

Speaking to supporters and journalists gathered outside his residence in South Jakarta on Wednesday evening, hours after the polls had closed, the fiery former special forces commander delivered a triumphant speech.

Indonesia has kicked off one of the world’s biggest one-day elections, pitting president Joko Widodo against ex-general Prabowo Subianto