Will the Indonesian Constitutional Court decide the presidential election results?

According to AP, after both candidates, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo and retired General Prabowo Subianto, claimed victory in Indonesia's presidential election held on July 9, it is likely that the next leader of the world's third largest democracy will be decided by the Constitutional Court.

Indonesia's third direct presidential election on July 9 went smoothly, but concerns about instability arose as both candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto claimed victory after preliminary results were announced.

Indonesians go to the polls. (Source: AP)

The deadlock has raised concerns about the risk of political instability in the world's most populous Muslim country and Southeast Asia's largest economy.

According to the three most reliable unofficial polls, Mr Widodo is leading with 52% of the vote. However, candidate Subianto said other polls showed him in first place.

The Indonesian Election Commission will announce the official results by July 22. If a candidate challenges the results, claiming fraud or irregularities in the election, the Constitutional Court will step in. Judges will have two weeks to make a decision after receiving the petitions.

"Given the claims of victory by both candidates, a legal battle at the Constitutional Court seems inevitable... The credibility of the Constitutional Court, as the final arbiter of the outcome of Indonesia's presidential election, is being challenged," said Denny Indrayana, deputy minister of law and human rights.

However, many believe that once the Constitutional Court intervenes, candidate Subianto will accept the final verdict./.

According to VNA