Both sides claim victory in tight Indonesia polls
10 July 2014 1:12 AM GMT
Both sides claimed victory on Wednesday in Indonesia’s tightest and most divisive presidential election since the end of authoritarian rule, as unofficial tallies showed Jakarta governor Joko Widodo leading ex-general Prabowo Subianto.
Widodo, the first serious presidential contender without roots in the era of dictator Suharto, declared victory in the world’s third largest democracy after the tallies from reliable polling agencies showed him leading by four to five percentage points.
But shortly afterwards Prabowo, who has admitted human rights abuses during the Suharto era and was formerly married to one of the strongman’s daughters, also claimed victory.
Prabowo said survey institutes used by his campaign team showed that he and running mate Hatta Rajasa ‘have received the support and mandate from the people of Indonesia’.
A spokesman for Widodo’s campaign, Anies Baswedan, called on Prabowo and his running mate to behave like ‘statesmen’.
‘For me, all credible survey institutes declared our victory at a minimum of five percent,’ he said.
It was an unprecedented standoff in Indonesia since Suharto’s downfall in 1998. The only two other direct presidential elections since then were won resoundingly by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The unofficial tallies that Widodo’s party relied on, known as ‘quick counts’, have accurately predicted the winner of previous elections.
However official results are not due for around two weeks, due to the complexity of holding elections across the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that spans three time zones.
A former furniture exporter from a humble background, Widodo -- known by his nickname Jokowi -- is seen as likely to usher in a new style of leadership and consolidate democracy should he win the election.
Prabowo has won support with promises of firm leadership in a country where many yearn for a strong chief. But critics fear he may shift Indonesia back towards authoritarian rule.
Widodo, the first serious presidential contender without roots in the era of dictator Suharto, declared victory in the world’s third largest democracy after the tallies from reliable polling agencies showed him leading by four to five percentage points.
But shortly afterwards Prabowo, who has admitted human rights abuses during the Suharto era and was formerly married to one of the strongman’s daughters, also claimed victory.
Prabowo said survey institutes used by his campaign team showed that he and running mate Hatta Rajasa ‘have received the support and mandate from the people of Indonesia’.
A spokesman for Widodo’s campaign, Anies Baswedan, called on Prabowo and his running mate to behave like ‘statesmen’.
‘For me, all credible survey institutes declared our victory at a minimum of five percent,’ he said.
It was an unprecedented standoff in Indonesia since Suharto’s downfall in 1998. The only two other direct presidential elections since then were won resoundingly by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The unofficial tallies that Widodo’s party relied on, known as ‘quick counts’, have accurately predicted the winner of previous elections.
However official results are not due for around two weeks, due to the complexity of holding elections across the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that spans three time zones.
A former furniture exporter from a humble background, Widodo -- known by his nickname Jokowi -- is seen as likely to usher in a new style of leadership and consolidate democracy should he win the election.
Prabowo has won support with promises of firm leadership in a country where many yearn for a strong chief. But critics fear he may shift Indonesia back towards authoritarian rule.
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