Jakarta – Indonesian military MPs will vote in presidential elections slated for November despite calls for them to abstain, armed forces chief General Wiranto was Tuesday quoted as saying.

"The calls for [the military's] neutrality in the presidential elections are against democracy," Wiranto said, quoted by the Jakarta Post. "The military as a part of the nation is responsible for the country's future."

Wiranto was commenting on calls by reformists for the military, who do not vote in general elections but are allotted 38 seats or 7.6 percent of the house's 500 seats, to abstain from the vote.

Under the Indonesian constitution, the president is selected by the 700-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the country's highest body which includes the 500 members of parliament.

Although partial results of the June 7 parliamentary polls show the opposition Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) of Megawati Sukarnoputri is a clear front-runner, the balance of power in the MPR remains in doubt.

Regional and functional representatives, who will be chosen to make up the other 200 seats, along with the ruling Golkar Party and any of its allies as well as the military could tip the presidential vote away from the PDIP, analysts said.

The military has so far remained silent on whether it would follow or break with its 32-year Suharto-era tradition of backing Golkar, and Wiranto Monday left the question open, saying it would back the "best" candidate.