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Jakarta Governor Says He Appears to Have Won Indonesian Presidential Election Jakarta Governor Says He Appears to Have Won Indonesian Presidential Election
(about 5 hours later)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Joko Widodo, the populist governor of Jakarta who burst onto Indonesia’s national political scene less than two years ago, said Wednesday that he appeared to have won the country’s presidential election, with results from several unofficial tallies putting him ahead of his opponent, a former army general. But the ex-general, Prabowo Subianto, said it was too early to declare a winner.JAKARTA, Indonesia — Joko Widodo, the populist governor of Jakarta who burst onto Indonesia’s national political scene less than two years ago, said Wednesday that he appeared to have won the country’s presidential election, with results from several unofficial tallies putting him ahead of his opponent, a former army general. But the ex-general, Prabowo Subianto, said it was too early to declare a winner.
Multiple independent polling firms conducting so-called quick counts, which are taken from vote tallies from a small sample of polling stations across the far-flung country, indicated that Mr. Joko had a lead of between 4 and 6 percentage points over Mr. Prabowo. The quick counts conducted by those firms have been highly accurate in past elections. Multiple independent polling firms conducting so-called quick counts, which are taken from vote tallies from a small sample of polling stations across the far-flung country, indicated that Mr. Joko had a lead of four to six percentage points over Mr. Prabowo. The quick counts conducted by those firms have been highly accurate in past elections.
If the official results, which are weeks away, confirm that Mr. Joko won, he will have completed an unlikely and meteoric rise to leader of the world’s fourth most populous nation. Emerging on the Indonesian political scene in 2012 when he was elected governor of Jakarta, the capital, Mr. Joko — popularly known as Jokowi — won a large following with his “people first” credo and humble manner, a striking departure from the aloof governing style of most Indonesian politicians. If the official results, which the general election commission must announce by July 22, confirm that Mr. Joko won, he will have completed an unlikely and meteoric rise to leader of the world’s fourth-most-populous nation. Emerging on the Indonesian political scene in 2012 when he was elected governor of Jakarta, the capital, Mr. Joko — popularly known as Jokowi — won a large following with his “people first” credo and humble manner, a striking departure from the aloof governing style of most Indonesian politicians.
Less than two hours after the polls closed early Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Joko and leaders of his opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle held a news conference at the home of the party’s chairwoman, Megawati Sukarnoputri, that was broadcast on live national television. Less than two hours after the polls closed early Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Joko and leaders of his opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle held a news conference at the home of the party’s chairwoman, Megawati Sukarnoputri, that was broadcast live on national television.
“At this point, according to quick counts, Jokowi-JK look to have won,” Mr. Joko said, referring to himself and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla. “At this point, according to quick counts, Jokowi-J.K. look to have won,” said Mr. Joko, referring to himself and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla.
Mrs. Megawati, herself a former Indonesian president, had stepped aside in March and appointed Mr. Joko as the party’s presidential candidate. She went further than Mr. Joko in her statement, saying, “Even though this is still in the vote-counting process, we already can say that Jokowi will be president.” Mrs. Megawati, herself a former Indonesian president, stepped aside in March and appointed Mr. Joko as the party’s presidential candidate. She went further than Mr. Joko in her statement, saying, “Even though this is still in the vote-counting process, we already can say that Jokowi will be president.”
Mr. Prabowo, however, refused to concede defeat late Wednesday afternoon, saying that all the quick counts weren’t completed and that some even had him in the lead. On Wednesday evening, Mr. Joko repeated the quick-count results during a brief but highly symbolic speech at a monument in central Jakarta dedicated to Indonesia’s declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945. That declaration had been made by Sukarno, Indonesia’s founding president and Mrs. Megawati’s father.
“Based on quick count results by polling institutions that we use as a benchmark, we have received a mandate from the people of Indonesia,” Mr. Prabowo said in a televised news conference at a family residence in South Jakarta. “We are waiting until all the data comes in, and after it reaches 90 percent or more, then we will declare our position and action.” “To win means to serve the people,” Mr. Joko said. “So all our people must unite for a better Indonesia.”
Mr. Prabowo did not say which polling organizations his campaign was relying on. But three lesser-known firms, widely seen as relatively untested, indicated in their quick counts that Mr. Prabowo held a slight lead. Mr. Prabowo, however, refused to concede defeat. His campaign cited quick counts conducted by five lesser-known polling firms, which indicated that he had an average lead of around 2.5 points.
The winner will replace President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took office in 2004 but is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The vote culminates an intense political season that saw nationwide legislative elections in April followed by a bruising presidential campaign. During an impassioned speech to cheering supporters at a Jakarta hotel Wednesday night, Mr. Prabowo appealed for patience until the official final results were released. “Don’t be provoked,” he said. “It’s O.K. if there are claims and declarations of victory by others, but they are not based on the election law.”
Trailing by more than 20 percentage points in one opinion poll only three months ago, Mr. Prabowo surged after the official campaigning period began in early June. Two polls released on Saturday indicated that Mr. Joko was clinging to a lead of between 2.7 and 4 percentage points, and analysts had said the vote would come down to the wire. While Mr. Prabowo did not declare victory based on the quick counts that he said his campaign was using as a benchmark to judge the election results, analysts said the firms that conducted them were widely viewed as untested.
Mr. Joko, a former furniture exporter, promised “more people-centric” governance and policies in a country that belongs to the Group of 20 major economies but still has more than 100 million people living on $2 a day or less. Mr. Prabowo, who was a son-in-law of Suharto, the late authoritarian president who ruled Indonesia for 32 years, pledged firm, decisive leadership, grass-roots welfare programs and protectionist economic policies. “If you look at the quick-count firms that Prabowo is citing, they are not credible institutions,” said Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a political scientist with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. “But it would be difficult to concede defeat based on quick counts. Prabowo’s supporters and followers still believe they are going to win.”
Both as Jakarta’s governor and, previously, as mayor of the Central Java town of Surakarta, Mr. Joko became known for walking through slums, traditional markets and lower-class neighborhoods to talk to people about bread-and-butter issues like health care, education, traffic and flood control. The winner will replace President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took office in 2004 but is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The vote wraps up an intense political season, beginning with nationwide legislative elections in April followed by a bruising presidential campaign.
Mr. Joko’s early, commanding lead in the presidential polls evaporated in part because of a smear campaign in which he was falsely suspected of being both Christian and ethnic Chinese. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and race and religion remain sensitive issues. Both candidates are Muslim and ethnic Javanese. Trailing by more than 20 percentage points in one opinion poll only three months ago, Mr. Prabowo surged after the official campaigning period began in early June. Two polls released on Saturday indicated that Mr. Joko was clinging to a lead of 2.7 to 4 percentage points, and analysts had said the vote would come down to the wire.
Mr. Joko, a former furniture exporter, promised “more people-centric” governance and policies in Indonesia, which belongs to the Group of 20 major economies but still has more than 100 million people living on $2 a day or less. Mr. Prabowo, who was a son-in-law of Suharto, the authoritarian president who ruled Indonesia for 32 years, pledged firm, decisive leadership, grass-roots welfare programs and protectionist economic policies.
Both as Jakarta’s governor and, previously, as mayor of the central Java town of Surakarta, Mr. Joko became known for walking through slums, traditional markets and lower-class neighborhoods to talk to people about bread-and-butter issues like health care, education, traffic and flood control.
Mr. Joko’s early, commanding lead in the presidential polls evaporated in part because of a smear campaign in which he was falsely suspected of being both Christian and ethnic Chinese. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and ethnicity and religion remain sensitive issues. Both candidates are Muslim and ethnic Javanese.
Mr. Prabowo was criticized during the campaign for his controversial military career, including allegations of gross human rights abuses as the commander of Indonesia’s Special Forces and as head of the army strategic reserve command under Mr. Suharto, who was forced to resign in 1998 amid pro-democracy demonstrations.Mr. Prabowo was criticized during the campaign for his controversial military career, including allegations of gross human rights abuses as the commander of Indonesia’s Special Forces and as head of the army strategic reserve command under Mr. Suharto, who was forced to resign in 1998 amid pro-democracy demonstrations.
Mr. Joko is the first presidential candidate who was not on the political scene during Mr. Suharto’s regime. The election has been characterized by some as both a race between Indonesia’s rich and poor and a choice between a reformer and a figure from the authoritarian past.Mr. Joko is the first presidential candidate who was not on the political scene during Mr. Suharto’s regime. The election has been characterized by some as both a race between Indonesia’s rich and poor and a choice between a reformer and a figure from the authoritarian past.
More than 187 million Indonesians were registered to vote at more than 450,000 polling stations on more than 7,000 islands across the vast archipelago. Voter turnout during the April 9 general elections was an impressive 75 percent, and analysts said that turnout Wednesday could be higher, given the nationwide excitement about the campaign. More than 187 million Indonesians were registered to vote at more than 450,000 polling stations on more than 7,000 islands across the vast archipelago. Voter turnout during the April 9 general elections was an impressive 75 percent, and analysts said turnout Wednesday could be higher, given the nationwide excitement about the campaign.
At a polling station in Tangerang, in Banten Province, just outside of Jakarta, Bondar, a 33-year-old barber, said he had voted from Mr. Joko. At a polling station in Tangerang, in Banten Province, just outside Jakarta, Bondar, a 33-year-old barber, said he had voted for Mr. Joko.
“I voted for Jokowi because he has no connection with the Suharto family,” he said, brandishing a fingertip marked with black indelible ink to show he had already voted. “He won’t be influenced by the old regime.” “I voted for Jokowi because he has no connection with the Suharto family,” he said, brandishing a fingertip marked with indelible black ink to show that he had already voted. “He won’t be influenced by the old regime.”
At the same polling station, Zulkifli A.S., 56, a civil servant working at a nearby land affairs office, said he voted for Mr. Prabowo because of his military background.At the same polling station, Zulkifli A.S., 56, a civil servant working at a nearby land affairs office, said he voted for Mr. Prabowo because of his military background.
“He will be a firmer, stronger leader,” he said. “I also think he has better knowledge of international affairs.”“He will be a firmer, stronger leader,” he said. “I also think he has better knowledge of international affairs.”
Katherina Setiadi, a 95-year-old who grew up under Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia, said she voted for Mr. Joko because she felt he was a good man. Katherina Setiadi, a 95-year-old who grew up under Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia, said she voted for Mr. Joko because she believed that he was a good man.
“There’s so much energy today compared to” Mr. Suharto’s regime, said Ms. Setiadi, sitting in a wheelchair and accompanied by family members. “You just feel it — feel the democracy.”“There’s so much energy today compared to” Mr. Suharto’s regime, said Ms. Setiadi, sitting in a wheelchair and accompanied by family members. “You just feel it — feel the democracy.”
Nearby, Nuka Santoso, a 57-year-old psychologist, said she voted for Mr. Prabowo because of his leadership qualities and rejected claims that he might roll back the democratization that Indonesia has undertaken during the past 16 years. Nearby, Nuka Santoso, a 57-year-old psychologist, said she voted for Mr. Prabowo because of his leadership qualities, and rejected claims that he might roll back the democratization that Indonesia has undertaken during the past 16 years.
“I’m not worried at all,” she said. “I come from a military family, and I think people want a leader who is firm.”“I’m not worried at all,” she said. “I come from a military family, and I think people want a leader who is firm.”