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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Indonesian presidential election tomorrow JAKARTA, Sept 18 (Reuters) Indonesia will vote in its first direct presidential election on Monday with incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri seeking another chance to revive the economy and tackle security, and her challenger vowing change. But despite all the campaign promises and efforts by Megawati and her former chief security minister, front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to distinguish themselves, their platforms are almost carbon copies of each other. "SBY is seen as the attractive yet uncertain promise, while Megawati is seen as the proven but so-so option," said Muhammad Husain of the Institute of Social and Economic Research. Polling will open at 5 a.m. (2200 GMT, Sunday) and close at 1 p.m (0600 GMT). Quick counts by independent groups are expected by evening, but the final result is expected to take longer. Megawati has brought stability back to the world's most populous Muslim nation after years of political turmoil following the end of president Suharto's 32-year rule in 1998. However, critics attack her for failing to create jobs, accelerate reforms and provide strong leadership. Yudhoyono has promised to inject a new vitality into the top office. The fact that as chief security minister he was Megawati's right man and responsible for many of her policies has not spoiled Yudhoyono's image of a fresh political face among voters. "No candidate should say that he can change things (too much)," Megawati's vice-presidential running mate, Islamic cleric Hasyim Muzadi, said recently. But despite similar platforms, the candidates have adopted different strategies for garnering support. Megawati, trailing her rival in all recent polls, has relied on horse-trading and coalition building, gathering the three biggest parties in the next parliament which together will hold more than 55 percent of the 550-member house. Media reports have said that Megawati's efforts to build the Nationhood Coalition include promises of cabinet posts in return for support. The main coalition partner is Golkar, once Suharto's political vehicle, which topped the April 5 general elections. It will take the most seats in the new parliament that will be sworn in in two weeks. Yudhoyono, 55, has tried to show himself as an opponent of the wheeling and dealing by political parties, and has chided Megawati for old-style politics, seeking to form an oligarchy or a government of the ruling elite. He has frequently defended his refusal to horse trade, arguing that the election is a landmark vote by ordinary people. That strategy appears to have paid off. He won the first round of voting in July, but without the majority needed to avoid a run-off. He has also led strongly in recent opinion polls. Yudhoyono's Democrat Party holds only 10 percent of the next parliament, but the former security minister has downplayed possible difficulties dealing with the legislature if elected. "Even if the Nationhood Coalition can solidly hold its 55 percent in the parliament, I am sure that I can get support from other legislators," he said recently. Yudhoyono has drawn a loose bond with the relatively new Muslim conservative Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which has become an icon against corruption and the old ways of doing politics in Indonesia. Some analysts have speculated the Nationhood Coalition will crumble if Megawati lost. On Friday, the Nationhood Coalition secured the post of speaker of the Jakarta city legislature for a Golkar politician in a fight critics have said was less than clean. It was the first key battle between the two camps and showed that old habits die hard. But whether Megawati and her old guard can repeat that success on Monday remains to be seen. "That'll be a big shock, but who knows," said the Institute of Social and Economic Research's Husain. |
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