Rivals claim Indonesia win
July 9, 2014
After voting closed on Wednesday in Indonesia's presidential election, private polling organizations got to work on 'quick count' exit polls. Most of the unofficial tallies indicated Jakarta governor Joko Widodo (pictured above) held a small lead of 4-5 percent over Prabowo Subianto, a former military general. The quick counts have generally been reliable in the past, but official election results are not expected for nearly two weeks.
However, both men used the results of the quick counts to declare victory in the election.
"At the time being, the quick counts show that Jokowi-Kalla is the winner," said Widodo, referring to his ticket of himself (Jokowi is his nickname) and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla.
Subianto issued a similar statement: "Thank God, all the data from the quick counts shows that we, Prabowo-Hatta, gained the people's trust," he said, referring to his running mate Hatta Rajasa.
The outgoing president, Bambang Yudhoyono, urged both camps to "restrain themselves" from declaring victory until Indonesia's election commission could tally official results. Yudhoyono is constitutionally barred from seeking another term after serving 10 years in office.
Change of direction
Analysts described this year's presidential campaign in Indonesia as the country's most bitterly-fought since the downfall of dictator Suharto in 1998.
While some voters perceive Joko Widodo as a politician who could usher in a new style of leadership, as he has no links to the country's troubled political past, they fear that Prabowo Subianto might do the opposite and push them back toward authoritarian rule.
Subianto, who was also the son-in-law of the late Indonesian dictator Suharto, has vowed to give the country firm leadership.
A coalition of six parties with nearly 60 percent control of parliament is backing the ex-general.
Indonesia has an ethnically and religiously diverse population. Over 87 percent of the nation's 253.6 million inhabitants are Muslim, while Christians make up roughly 10 percent of the population. The remaining 3 percent are Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian.
mz/hc (AFP, AP)