Indonesia presidential election

Megawati slams "pseudo-democracy" as Yudhoyono re-elected

Article published on the 2009-07-08 Latest update 2009-07-08 13:52 TU

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2nd L) with his wife Kristiani Yudhoyono and other members of his family
(Photo: Reuters)

Former Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri slammed Wednesday's presidential election as "pseudo-democracy", after exit polls showed incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the clear winner. With reports that he has won between 50 and 60 per cent of the vote, Yudhoyono may not have to go to a second round.

"Real democracy means, first, there are no indications of fraud," a furious Megawati told local station TV One.

"How could it be that up until yesterday I was still receiving reports that about ten million people could not exercise their right to vote, and also that 68,000 polling stations were 'disappeared'?" she asked. "In my opinion, this is a pseudo-democracy."

Megawati Sukarnoputri casts her vote
(Photo: Reuters)

Three different polls show SBY, as he is widely known, winning between 50.48 and 60 per cent, well ahead of all other candidates. His Democratic Party won the largest number of seats in May's general election.

But the polls differ as to who is the runner-up. A poll for Metro TV puts former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), second with 19.48 per cent. But TV One puts her third, with the Golkar Party's Jusuf Kalla second with 25.79 per cent. Kalla was Yudhonyo's Vice-President in the previous adminstration.

Official results are not expected for several days but Yudhoyono may not have to go to a second round, which would take place in September if necessary. To be an outright winner in the first round a candidate needs more than 50 per cent of the vote plus at least 20 per cent in all provinces.

Election officials dressed as characters from traditional theatre at a polling station
(Photo: Reuters)

Victory in Wednesday's vote would make Yudhoyono the first President to win a second term, although the country's first President, Sukarno, ruled from 1945 to 1967 before being deposed in a coup.

Talking to reporters after the exit poll results were made public, he thanked the Indonesian people and said there was "no special secret" behind his success.

He named the economy, political stability and anti-corruption reforms as priorities for his second term but was slow to mention separatist tensions in Papua and other provinces.

This election is the second time Indonesians have directly elected their President.

Security forces opened fire on a group of people near the US-owned Freeport McMorran mine in Papua. Officials said they believed that they were separatists trying to disrupt the election. No other election violence has been reported.