Jakarta – Violence across Indonesia subsided Friday after popular opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri was sworn in as vice president and the world's newest and third largest democracy took shape.
As supporters celebrated in the streets, the daughter of the country's late founding father Sukarno took her oath in solemn ceremonies at the national assembly late Thursday, one day after her failed bid for the presidency set off riots in several cities.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, a Muslim scholar who beat Megawati for the top post, witnessed the swearing-in, along with his predecessor B.J. Habibie, foreign diplomats and the political elite in the world's fourth largest nation of more than 210 million people.
Only the day before, Jakarta was rocked by riots as Megawati loyalists and rioters clashed with police and troops and set fire to highway toll booths, cars and buildings, leaving at least two dead in the capital.
With Megawati's win, Indonesia underwent its first democratic elections for its top state posts 17 months after the downfall of strongman Suharto, who had brought down Megawati's father in the mid-1960s. Suharto is now said to be in poor health.
But despite dizzying reforms in the past year, the president and vice president are, as in the Suharto years, still elected by the 700-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), prompting calls for direct elections.
The vice presidency has gained added importance amid worries for the health of President Wahid, 59, a nearly blind stroke victim who needs help walking and had to take dictation from an aide to recite his oath of office Wednesday.
The 1945 Indonesian constitution says: "Should the President die, cease from executing or be unable to execute his duties during his term of office, his office shall be taken by the Vice-President until the expiry of that term." The ruling pair have a week to select their cabinet.
Jakarta's main share index closed 5.5 percent higher Thursday in heavy trade even before the results were out, on expectations Megawati would win. The rupiah currency firmed to 6,950-7,050 to the dollar, from 7,500-7,600 the day before.
In Washington, the deputy head of the International Monetary FundStanley Fischer said he hoped to see a resumption in IMF credits to Indonesia "in a matter of weeks".
IMF disbursements to Indonesia were suspended over events in East Timor, which has voted to severe ties with Indonesia, and a banking scandal.
In an acceptance speech liberally sprinkled with thanks and praise for former rivals, Megawati said: "Our nation and people are now in a situation which they had longed for, where ethics and morals will prevail in the life of the nation and state."
Megawati paid homage to the armed forces and personally thanked its leader General Wiranto, who she said "paved the way for me to become vice president" after stepping out of the race for the post.
Megawati's chances suddenly brightened after her toughest rivals – Wiranto and the former ruling Golkar party chairman Akbar Tanjung – withdrew in quick succession before voting began.
Megawati then defeated the other remaining candidate, Hamzah Haz, chairman of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP). The tally was 396 votes for Megawati, 284 for Haz and five abstentions out of 685 votes cast.
There were fears of more unrest if Megawati, whose party won the most votes in the June polls for the lower house, was denied the vice presidency by the bigger MPR, which includes government appointees. She lost the presidential election by 60 votes.
Wearing a lilac traditional two-piece batik gown called a kebaya, with a matching shawl draped over her left shoulder and her hair tied back in a bun, the bespectacled mother of three read her oath in the native Bahasa Indonesia in 63 seconds.
Outside the somber hall and across the capital Jakarta, Megawati supporters cheered as her victory became evident in television and radio broadcasts.
Dozens of supporters of Megawati's Indonesian Democracy Party – Struggle (PDIP) drove in cars and motorcycles around the famous Hotel Indonesia roundabout, a favorite spot for demonstrators, waving party banners and flags.
Police applauded passing demonstrators who yelled "Long live Mega". When a female demonstrator gave them PDIP mini flags, police took and waved them as well.