Tom Allard, Jakarta – Eurico Guterres, the pro-integration militia leader who terrorised East Timor as it voted for independence, has failed to win a seat in Indonesia's parliament.

The doomed attempt of Mr Guterres to get the lucrative sinecure as a representative for West Timor was confirmed over the weekend with the release of the final official results of April's legislative elections.

"Because he is a famous figure, it was hard for him," said a member of Mr Guterres's campaign team, Hukman Reny, comparing him to the Brazilian footballer, Ronaldinho. "Just like Ronaldinho, whenever he plays, all the backs try to stop him scoring."

With his long hair, beret and penchant for incendiary speeches, Mr Guterres became the symbol of the anti-independence movement and was accused of leading murderous rampages during East Timor's blood-soaked transition to nationhood.

Mr Guterres was found guilty by Indonesia's courts of crimes against humanity, but then later acquitted. He has been pursuing a parliamentary seat ever since.

The final tally of the vote for the national parliament confirmed that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat Party almost tripled its vote and secured the largest share of seats.

It also highlighted the chaotic organisation of a poll where millions of eligible voters were left off rolls, the wrong ballot papers were sent to districts, and many people had a poor understanding of how to cast their votes properly.

Almost 50 million people were either unable to vote or failed to turn up, while another 17.5 million people voted incorrectly. At almost 40 per cent of registered voters, this so-called "golput" vote was easily the highest in Indonesia's decade of democracy.

Indonesia will vote for its president in July, and the deadline for candidates to nominate expires on Saturday. Coalitions of parties, and presidential and vice-presidential teams, are being formed and then fracturing with dizzying speed.

In the latest development, Dr Yudhoyono has made overtures to his long-time rival Megawati Soekarnoputri to support his presidential bid. Two weeks ago Ms Soekarnoputri launched a "grand coalition" opposing the incumbent.

The president's envoy opened the talks by assuring Ms Soekarnoputri that the title deed of her palatial residence in a Jakarta suburb would be in her name. As one of her last acts as president in 2004, Ms Soekarnoputri spent 20 billion rupiah ($2.5 million) to buy the house for herself as the mark of a former president.