Run-0ff Seems Very Likely
Susilo still ahead in presidential vote, Megawati trails
Jakarta (AsiaNews/AP) The new Indonesian president is to be decided in a run-off election already scheduled for September 20. The latest exit poll results put former General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in the lead without giving him a majority. With 44% of the official vote counted, incumbent president Megawati Sukarnoputri is in second place and the likely second candidate in the run-off.
According to official Electoral Commission's results, SBY's portion of the vote rose to 34%. Megawati's also rose and now stands at 27%. Wiranto's vote remains stable at 22%.
SBY is probably assured a place on the ballot on September 20, but the race for second place is still on. Wiranto supporters are hoping that the still uncounted votes from the more remote regions of the country might favour the General at the expense of Megawati.
According to various observers, in the absence of a final winner political uncertainties and social tensions are likely to prevail over next two months. Last month, SBY himself had warned that a run-off election might cause incidents between rival factions.
Yesterday, scrutineers re-examined ballots declared invalid by the presence of two instead of one punched chad hole. Still, according election officials the recount of million of ballots should not invalidate overall results.
Examining all the ballots and tallying the official results will take another 10 days. (MA)
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