Since 2009, Prabowo Subianto has become a fixture in Indonesia’s electoral landscape, doggedly participating in every general election cycle: 2009, 2014, 2019, and finally, in 2024, claiming victory at last. Over these years, Prabowo’s political identity has undergone a remarkable transformation, a chameleon-like adaptability that speaks to populist politics. Subianto, an ex-military chief who has been accused of human rights abuses during the Suharto regime, refined his approach, dramatically shifting his image and strategy to finally secure the presidency. His alliance with Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming, as his vice-presidential candidate was a move that not only secured Jokowi’s crucial support but also signaled a break from his past confrontational stance.248 The Constitutional Court made a highly controversial amendment to electoral rules, allowing Raka to run as Prabowo’s vicepresidential candidate. Subianto moved from his former ultra-nationalist or Islamist populist language of previous campaigns towards a more technocratic, even amiable figure, which signifies a new shift in the Indonesian political landscape that requires new strategic alignments with ‘hidden’ agendas.249 Ram Madhav. The Print. https://theprint.in/world/you-know-g20-now-theres-r20-a-push-for-moderate-islam-with-links-torsss-ram-madhav/1099400/ 248 Populism Studies. (2024). The changing populist performances of Prabowo Subianto: Indonesia’s incoming president. Populism Studies. https://www.populismstudies.org/the-changing-populist-performances-of-prabowo-subianto-indonesias-incoming-president/ 249 BBC News. (2024). Indonesia’s Prabowo wins presidency amid controversy. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ world-asia-68237141 67