Indonesia's Yudhoyono on course for re-election
Formal campaigning for Indonesia's July 8 presidential election began yesterday with incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seemingly on track for victory thanks to the country's robust economy, his clean image and the lack of a credible challenger.
Most polls put the former general on at least 60 per cent support, with his predecessor, Megawati Sukarnoputri, in the upper teens and Jusuf Kalla, vice-president and third contender, in single digits. About 15 per cent of the 176m voters remain undecided.
Victory is secured by winning more than 50 per cent of total votes and at least 20 per cent of the vote in half the 33 provinces. If no one fulfils the criteria, the top two candidates will compete in a September run-off.
Kevin Evans, a Jakarta-based analyst, said: "The biggest danger to Mr Yudhoyono winning in July is that everyone thinks he is going to win and so his supporters stay at home."
Mr Yudhoyono's popularity was demonstrated in April when his Democrat party won 26 per cent of the seats in the legislative election, almost a third more than any other party. Polls have consistently shown that he is much more popular than his party.
Sound economic management is considered the key to his success. Indonesia's economy grew by 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, year on year, thanks to domestic demand, strong commodity prices and relatively low unemployment.
On Thursday, rating agency Moody's upgraded its outlook for Indonesia's Ba3 sovereign rating to positive from stable.
Mr Yudhoyono's image was bolstered on Wednesday when he inaugurated the longest bridge in south-east Asia, between East Java and Madura island. But his main weak point is his failure to modernise the country's infrastructure.
Most polls put the former general on at least 60 per cent support, with his predecessor, Megawati Sukarnoputri, in the upper teens and Jusuf Kalla, vice-president and third contender, in single digits. About 15 per cent of the 176m voters remain undecided.
Victory is secured by winning more than 50 per cent of total votes and at least 20 per cent of the vote in half the 33 provinces. If no one fulfils the criteria, the top two candidates will compete in a September run-off.
Kevin Evans, a Jakarta-based analyst, said: "The biggest danger to Mr Yudhoyono winning in July is that everyone thinks he is going to win and so his supporters stay at home."
Mr Yudhoyono's popularity was demonstrated in April when his Democrat party won 26 per cent of the seats in the legislative election, almost a third more than any other party. Polls have consistently shown that he is much more popular than his party.
Sound economic management is considered the key to his success. Indonesia's economy grew by 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, year on year, thanks to domestic demand, strong commodity prices and relatively low unemployment.
On Thursday, rating agency Moody's upgraded its outlook for Indonesia's Ba3 sovereign rating to positive from stable.
Mr Yudhoyono's image was bolstered on Wednesday when he inaugurated the longest bridge in south-east Asia, between East Java and Madura island. But his main weak point is his failure to modernise the country's infrastructure.