Millions of Indonesians across the world’s largest archipelago voted Monday in their first direct presidential election, with ex-general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confident of winning most votes but not enough to avoid a second-round runoff. "Three cheers for democracy," enthused a Jakarta post editorial as electors ranging from illiterate tribesmen in Papua province to Javanese rice farmers and Jakarta yuppies seized their historic opportunity. "God willing, I am confident I can go into the second round," said Yudhoyono, a former security minister who led the fight against terrorism after the Bali bombings and other attacks by Al Qaeda-linked Islamic militants. A survey last week gave him 43.5 percent support, more than his four rivals combined. He needs more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff between the top two candidates on September 20.
After three years at the head of the world’s largest Muslim-populated nation, incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri is struggling to make it to the likely runoff. The survey by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) gave another ex-general, Wiranto, 14.2 percent support and Megawati 11.7 percent. Wiranto predicted that, "God willing," he would make the second round. National assembly speaker Amien Rais came fourth in the survey with 10.9 percent while current Vice President Hamzah Haz had just 2.4.
| I don't think that God wills he make it to the second round... |
Polls closed at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT). Hank Valentino of IFES, speaking around one hour earlier, estimated turnout in Jakarta at over 80 percent. Official results are expected over the next two weeks. Results of an unofficial "quick count" were to be released late Monday or Tuesday. Results from 17 polling stations in Bali and nine in the Jakarta area showed Yudhoyono top at all but one. Rais was performing unexpectedly well in several regions. Ballots are counted at each of the 575,000 polling stations and counts are forwarded to district centers for tabulation. The process slowed down when the national election chief ordered a nationwide recount to include millions of ballot papers, which inadvertently became invalid. Voters used a nail to punch a box corresponding to their choice. Because ballot papers were folded in half, many punched two holes -- making the vote invalid until the commission’s ruling.
| Indonesia's version of the butterfly ballot. |
Megawati has disappointed the hopes of millions of "reformasi" (reform) supporters who voted her party top of the polls in a 1999 legislative election. Legislators that year denied her the presidency and she took over in 2001.
| I still think it's a great thing. I wouldn't have been bent out of shape had she won, but the test of a democracy isn't with the first time it holds elections, but the second. No state of emergency, no forced constitutional amendments to keep her in power, and Hamzah Haz got creamed. I wish Yudhoyono luck. |
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