Susilo, pollsters see landslide win

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

A mere fraction of the vote has been counted by the General Elections Commission (KPU), but candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed optimism on Monday that he could win by a landslide.

Susilo said he estimated he and his running mate Jusuf Kalla would garner 60 percent of the vote, judging from the increased public support they observed during their trips across the archipelago.

"If the election runs smoothly and we can prevent any violations, including vote-rigging, from taking place, I believe I can win up to 60 percent of the vote," Susilo told a press briefing after he and his wife Kristiani Herrawati cast their votes at a polling station near their residence in Cikeas area, Bogor, West Java,

A "quick count" conducted by two pollsters, the Institute of Research, Education and Information of Social and Economic Affairs (LP3ES) and the Polling Center, showed Susilo had gained 61.2 percent and 60.21 percent of the vote respectively to beat the incumbent, President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In his speech later in the evening, Susilo underlined the need for the reconciliation of those involved in the presidential race.

"In the coming days, I expect to see the spirit of reconciliation prevail, We didn't anticipate it, but, the competition has kept us apart," he said.

He also thanked Megawati for maintaining democracy in the country, which had enabled the people to directly elect their president.

Susilo said his performance in the first round of the presidential election in July had played a significant role in his success, while he believed most supporters of eliminated candidates had switched to him.

"I believe those who supported other candidates -- Pak Amien Rais and Pak Wiranto -- voted for me," Susilo said.

Susilo finished first with 33.5 percent of the vote in July, and Megawati second with 26 percent, edging out Wiranto, Amien and the other contender, Hamzah Haz.

Both Amien and Wiranto declared they would remain neutral during the election runoff. But Amien allowed some executives of the National Mandate Party, which he leads, to campaign for Susilo.

Pre-election opinion polls consistently said that most people surveyed preferred the Susilo-Kalla ticket, which is running under the flag of the upstart Democratic Party.

Buoyant Susilo also started to talk about his future cabinet.

"If I win the election, I will reveal my choices for the main cabinet ministers for public scrutiny. They include candidates for attorney general, the finance minister and the state enterprises minister," Susilo said.

He also said one to three ministers in the current government would be given the opportunity to work with him. They would need to meet some requirements, including capability, loyalty to the state and experience, Susilo added.

Kalla had said earlier that the administration of Susilo would pick a new National Police chief for sure.