The Golkar party of former dictator Suharto officially won Indonesia's parliamentary election but now faces a tougher battle for the presidency in July.
Golkar took 21.58 percent of the vote in the April 5 election compared to 18.53 for President Megawati Sukarnoputri's ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the national election commission announced.
The widely-predicted official result is a disaster for Megawati's PDI-P, the successor to the party which opposed Suharto's 32-year autocratic rule.
PDI-P had swept to victory with 34 percent of the vote in 1999, a year after the dictator was forced to step down amid an economic crisis and street riots.
Media reports said the head of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organisation, has agreed to be Megawati's running mate – a move which could strengthen her uphill fight for re-election in the July 5 presidential poll.
Golkar legislator Slamet Effendi Yusuf hailed the result as a sign that "people long for a resolution of the crisis that has continued since 1997-98." Millions of voters deserted Megawati in protest at her aloof style, a relatively sluggish economy, unemployment of around 10 million and pervasive corruption.
But all the big parties including Golkar saw their support fall compared to 1999, with voters seeking change and turning to two small parties.
The new Democrat party founded by presidential front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono came fifth with 7.45 percent. The Prosperous Justice Party took 7.34 percent after campaigning on an anti-corruption platform and playing down its conservative Islamic agenda.
In third place was the National Awakening Party founded by former president Abdurrahman Wahid with 10.57 percent. Fourth was the main Islamic party, the United Development Party of Vice-President Hamzah Haz, with 8.15 percent.
The National Mandate Party of national assembly speaker Amien Rais won 6.44 percent.
Some analysts see the presidential poll as a battle between two ex-generals – Megawati's personable former security minister Yudhoyono and ex-military chief Wiranto, who has been indicted in East Timor for crimes against humanity in 1999. Wiranto won Golkar's nomination last month.
A recent opinion poll showed Yudhoyono with 30.6 percent support compared to just 14.6 percent for Megawati and 2.2 percent for Wiranto. The survey was conducted before Wiranto's nomination, which is likely to boost his support significantly.
Parties must nominate their presidential and vice-presidential teams this month. But nominees do not have to be party members and candidates are competing for the most electable running-mate.
Yudhoyono has picked former welfare minister and Golkar member Jusuf Kalla. Wiranto and Megawati had been competing for Hasyim Muzadi, head of the NU which claims 40 million followers.
The Jakarta Post and other papers said Muzadi has agreed to team up with Megawati. "We have decided to pair with Megawati and are discussing terms," Muzadi was quoted by the Post as saying.
But ex-president Wahid could still spoil the chances of his former deputy Megawati, who replaced him in 2001. Wahid, who has strong support in NU, refuses so far to endorse Muzadi.
Wiranto has approached Wahid's younger brother Solahuddin, the NU's deputy head. Wahid senior was quoted as saying he had given his blessing to Solahuddin's candidacy but would not campaign for him and Wiranto.