Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto paused for a moment, allowing the crowd to roar as he welcomed his former wife, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, more popularly known as Titiek Soeharto, during the final campaign rally at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday.
The crowd occasionally responded with applause as Prabowo read a long list of party leaders, cabinet members, and other prominent individuals, including former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who were among the tens of thousands of supporters attending the rally.
However, the most thunderous and prolonged roar came when Prabowo mentioned "Madame Titiek Soeharto."
Titiek is the second daughter of the late Soeharto, Indonesia's longest-serving president. She was married to army officer Prabowo in 1983, but the marriage ended after Soeharto resigned following nationwide protests against his authoritarian rule in 1998.
Her son from her marriage with Prabowo, Didit Hediprasetyo, was also present at the rally, sitting next to her.
Titiek stood up and waved at the crowd after her name was mentioned.
Although in several interviews she has dismissed the prospect of remarrying Prabowo, the 64-year-old has been actively participating in Prabowo's presidential campaign since the former husband attempted to win the presidency in 2014.
Prabowo was defeated by future President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in 2014 and 2019, but this time he's the frontrunner according to many polls, with the president behind him.
He received a significant boost after he appointed Jokowi's son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate, winning support from a large portion of Jokowi's voters.
At least four research agencies have predicted an outright win for Prabowo in the three-person election scheduled for February 14.
"Four days from now, we will hold general elections to determine the future of our children and grandchildren. Prabowo and Gibran are determined to eradicate poverty from our country and work to bring prosperity to all the Indonesian people," Prabowo said in his speech.
"We should never allow foreign countries to fool us. We must become a great and prosperous nation by maintaining our integrity, unity, and mutual cooperation. The strong help the weak, the rich support the poor, and the educated assist the uneducated," he said.
Prabowo is competing against former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo for the presidency. President Jokowi cannot seek reelection due to the constitutional term limit.