IT'S 'DR' SBY<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It is now official. Retired Army general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nwas declared on Monday winner of the election runoff, making him
\nthe country's first president to be directly elected since
\nIndonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced that Susilo
\nand his running mate Jusuf Kalla won the election with 69,266,350
\nvotes or 60.68 percent of total valid votes, compared to
\nincumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri and partner Hasyim Muzadi's
\n39.38 percent.<\/p>\n
Susilo, whose candidacy had raised fears of a return of the
\nmilitary to the political stage, refrained from making a public
\nvictory speech as Megawati's camp decided to contest the result
\nin the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n
The court has given the two camps three days to file election
\ncomplaints and will hear them only if the outcome is likely to
\naffect the final vote counting result.<\/p>\n
Arief Wibowo of the Megawati-Hasyim camp highlighted the fact
\nthat a number of polling stations in 12 provinces recorded more
\nthan 300 votes, the maximum figure of voters allowed in a polling
\nstation by the Election Law.<\/p>\n
\"In Nagrak subdistrict, Bogor regency, there were 17 polling
\nstations that saw a dramatic increase in the number of voters,\"
\nArief told the plenary meeting, referring to polling stations in
\nthe vicinity of Susilo's private residence in Cikeas.<\/p>\n
In the end, the Megawati-Hasyim team agreed to sign the
\nofficial results from all provinces except West Java.<\/p>\n
The team also said that it would challenge the election result
\nthrough the Constitutional Court. \"Our team of lawyers have
\nprepared a strong case,\" Arief said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said that the commission
\nwould honor any decision the team would make.<\/p>\n
\"However, the Constitutional Court will decide whether there
\nis a strong basis for the complaint. They could only come up with
\nan allegation of irregularities from two regencies,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
KPU also said spoiled ballots in the Sept. 20 election reached
\n2,405,651, while the number of people who did not exercise their
\nvoting rights stood at around 35 million. At least 153 million
\npeople voted in the election.<\/p>\n
In the final tally, Susilo reigned supreme in almost all the
\ncountry's 32 provinces, even in provinces considered to be
\nMegawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nstrongholds such as North Sumatra, Central Java and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Megawati came first only in four provinces Bali, East Nusa
\nTenggara, Maluku and West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, KPU chairman, hailed the result as a
\nvictory for the world's third largest democracy, which emerged
\nfrom the autocratic grip of former president Soeharto in 1998.<\/p>\n
\"It feels like public participation has been so tremendous
\nthat it propelled both presidential and vice-presidential
\ncandidates toward healthy competition,\" Nazaruddin was quoted by
\nAgence-France Presse as saying.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that all three elections proceeded peacefully is a
\nremarkable achievement for Indonesian citizens.\"<\/p>\n
However, confusion over who should make the first formal
\nspeech on the official election result saw Susilo and Megawati
\nsilent and cautious on Monday about future political
\ndevelopments.<\/p>\n
Susilo had planned to deliver a formal acceptance speech on
\nMonday evening. His team sent out text messages inviting
\njournalists to attend Susilo's victory speech in Cikeas, West
\nJava at 7 p.m. on Monday evening.<\/p>\n
However, when journalists came at the designated time to his
\nprivate residence, Susilo, who normally looks confident, looked
\nbaffled.<\/p>\n
He made a short remark about the KPU confirming his lead in
\nthe poll only after being pursued by journalists who had flocked
\nto his private residence in Cikeas, Bogor regency, anticipating
\nan official statement.<\/p>\n
\"I am grateful to God and the next step will be
\nreconciliation. It is time to move ahead,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Susilo said that reconciliation was noble in these times.<\/p>\n
One of Susilo's confidants Maj. Gen. (ret) Djali Jusuf said
\nthat the new president would likely deliver his acceptance speech
\nafter the Constitutional Court wrapped up hearing complaints from
\nthe losing candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Pak SBY honors the existing election regulations which grants
\nthe Constitutional Court a three-day period to settle all
\ndisputes. The speech may be given on Oct. 8 or Oct. 9,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Following the KPU announcement, Megawati held a private
\nmeeting at her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta,
\nwith Hasyim, interim minister for political and security affairs
\nHari Sabarno, National Intelligence Chief A.M. Hendropriyono and
\nmembers of her campaign team.<\/p>\n
Hasyim left the meeting early without making any statement.<\/p>\n
Megawati was expected to give a speech at 6 p.m. about the
\nelection results, but she canceled it without any clear reason.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-dr-sby-1447893297",
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