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Jakarta Governor Says He Appears to Have Won Indonesian Presidential Election Populist Hopeful Says He’s Likely Winner in Indonesia, Defeating Ex-General
(about 9 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 four to six percentage points over Mr. Prabowo. The quick counts conducted by those firms have been highly accurate in past elections. Independent polling firms conducting so-called quick counts, which are taken 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. The quick counts conducted by those firms have been highly accurate in past elections.
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. 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. Elected governor of Jakarta, the capital, in 2012, Mr. Joko is known for a “people first” credo and humble manner that are a striking departure from the aloof 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 live on national television. Less than two hours after the polls closed early Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Joko — popularly known as Jokowi — 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-J.K. look to have won,” said Mr. Joko, referring to himself and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla. “According to quick counts, Jokowi-J.K. look to have won,” Mr. Joko said, referring to himself and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla.
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.” Mrs. Megawati, a former president herself, 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.”
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. On Wednesday evening, Mr. Joko repeated the quick-count results during a brief speech at a monument in central Jakarta dedicated to Indonesia’s declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945. “To win means to serve the people,” he said. “So all our people must unite for a better Indonesia.”
“To win means to serve the people,” Mr. Joko said. “So all our people must unite for a better Indonesia.” Mr. Prabowo, however, did not concede defeat. His campaign cited quick counts conducted by five lesser-known polling firms, which indicated that he had an average lead of 2.5 points.
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. During an impassioned speech to cheering supporters on 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.”
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.” Analysts said the firms that conducted the quick counts he cited were widely viewed as untested. “They are not credible institutions,” said Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a political scientist with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
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. The winner will replace President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The vote culminates an intense political season that saw legislative elections in April followed by a bruising presidential campaign.
“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.” Trailing by more than 20 percentage points in one poll three months ago, Mr. Prabowo surged after campaigning began in early June. Two polls released on Saturday indicated that the candidates were essentially tied, as Mr. Joko’s advantage was within the polls’ margins of sampling error.
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, a former furniture exporter, promised “more people-centric” governance and policies in Indonesia, which has more than 100 million people living on $2 a day or less. Mr. Prabowo, who was a son-in-law of Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for 32 years, pledged firm, decisive leadership, grass-roots welfare programs and protectionist economic policies.
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 became known for walking through slums, markets and lower-class neighborhoods to talk to people about bread-and-butter issues like health care, education and flood control.
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. Mr. Joko’s early, commanding lead in the polls evaporated in part because of a smear campaign in which he was falsely said to be both Christian and ethnic Chinese. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and ethnicity, race and religion remain sensitive issues. Both candidates are Muslim and ethnic Javanese.
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 tenure. 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 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 that turnout Wednesday could be higher, given the nationwide excitement about the campaign.
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. At a polling station in Tangerang, in Banten Province, just outside of Jakarta, Bondar, 33, a 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 indelible black ink to show that 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. “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 a polling station in central Jakarta, Katherina Setiadi, 95, who grew up under Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia, said she voted for Mr. Joko because she believed he was a good man.
“He will be a firmer, stronger leader,” he said. “I also think he has better knowledge of international affairs.” “There’s so much energy today compared to” Mr. Suharto’s time, she said.
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. Nearby, Nuka Santoso, 57 a psychologist, said she voted for Mr. Prabowo because of his leadership qualities, and rejected assertions that he might roll back Indonesia’s democratization.
“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.” “I’m not worried at all,” she said.
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.”