Susilo, pollsters see landslide win

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.