Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa
A murderous hardline general expelled from the US and other countries for human rights abuses could become Indonesia's next president.
Prabowo Subianto, 72, was one of the country's most feared and hated men 25 years ago.
He was the son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto and is accused of ordering the kidnapping, torture and murder of democracy activists.
But now he has transformed his public image as a cute dancing grandpa into widely shared videos on social media.
Prabowo Subianto, 72, was one of the country's most feared and hated men 25 years ago
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 2 Younger generations, largely ignorant of its history, call it “gems.”](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430629_566_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
Younger generations, largely ignorant of its history, call it “gems.”
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 4 Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430631_372_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 6 The general has transformed his public image as a cute dancing grandpa in widely shared videos on social media](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430632_175_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
The general has transformed his public image as a cute dancing grandpa in widely shared videos on social media
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 8 As part of his campaign, he has also put up large billboards depicting him as a smiling cartoon character](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430633_407_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
As part of his campaign, he has also put up large billboards depicting him as a smiling cartoon character
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 10 The social media videos have gone viral in Indonesia and people now regard the tyrant as a cute dancing grandpa](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430635_347_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
The social media videos have gone viral in Indonesia and people now regard the tyrant as a cute dancing grandpa
The videos show him performing comically bad daddy dances and have gone viral in Indonesia.
As part of his campaign, he has also put up large billboards depicting him as a smiling cartoon character.
Younger generations, largely ignorant of its history, call it “gems.”
It is an Indonesian slang term that translates to “cute,” The Times reported.
Polls show him ahead of his two rivals in the campaign to replace President Joko next year.
Prabowo was an Indonesian special forces general who led a terror regime in East Timor in the 1990s, torturing and killing independence fighters.
He also kidnapped human rights activists, some of whom have never been seen since, and was expelled from several countries including the US and Australia.
After being a fierce political rival of Joko, he became defense minister in 2019.
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 12 Prabowo was even banned from countries such as the US and Australia due to his human rights abuses](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430637_95_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
Prabowo was even banned from countries such as the US and Australia due to his human rights abuses
![Dad-dancing murderous oppressor looks set to become next president of Indonesia after TikTok videos portrayed him as a cuddly grandpa 14 Prabowo was an Indonesian special forces general who led a terror regime in East Timor in the 1990s](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1701430638_739_Dad-dancing-murderous-oppressor-looks-set-to-become-next-president-of.jpg)
Prabowo was an Indonesian special forces general who led a terror regime in East Timor in the 1990s
It was a strategic move intended to secure Joko's government during his second term.
Prabowo's running mate is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko.
Gibran, 36, was younger than the legal age to run for vice presidency, but Indonesia's constitutional court changed the law to allow this. Moreover, the chief judge in the court was Joko's brother-in-law.
With the announcement of Gibran as Prabowo's running mate, critics accused Joko of betraying his party.
Joko is from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Ganjar Pranowo, 55, is the candidate for the February 2024 elections.
But Ganjar remains in second place behind Prabowo and his Gerindra party.
The third candidate is Anies Baswedan, 54, the former governor of Jakarta, who has support from conservative Muslim voters.
Voters will go to the polls on February 14, 2024.