Indonesia - elections

Megawati launches court challenge

Article published on the 2009-07-28 Latest update 2009-07-28 06:47 TU

A protester stands in front of a poster during a demonstration against the election results in Jakarta, 25 July, 2009
(Photo: Reuters/Dadang Tri)

Indonesian opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri launched a Constitutional Court challenge on Tuesday over this month’s presidential election results.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won 60.8 per cent of the vote but Megawati claims that mismanagement by the country’s election commission, the KPU, led to problems in 25 provinces. Megawati received 26.8 per cent of votes in the 8 July poll.

Another defeated candidate, vice-president Jusuf Kalla, submitted a similar appeal to the Constitutional Court on Monday. Kalla, who received 12.4 per cent of the vote, claims millions of Indonesians were unable to cast their ballot because they were mistakenly left off the official voter list.

"First, we want a second round presidential election run-off or at least SBY has to bring back the people's trust by competing in the run-off with us," Megawati’s legal advisor Arteria Dahlan said, using Yudhoyono's nickname.

"Second, if that's not granted, then we want the vote to be counted again across Indonesia. Third, we have proof that there were problems in 25 provinces, so we want the presidential election to be held again in those 25 provinces."

"What we are after is the KPU itself,” he continued. “What we criticise is the KPU's neglect that has impacted on our vote," he said.

Megawati, a former president of the country, had complained about voting irregularities before April’s general elections and in the lead-up to the presidential election.

In an effort to resolve the dispute, the Constitutional Court ruled two days before the election to allow people to vote using their identity cards. Independent observers said the poll was largely free and fair.