Sian Powell, Jakarta – As the votes in Indonesia's first direct presidential election were tallied yesterday, President Megawati Sukarnoputri remained tight-lipped over her resounding defeat.
With about 74 million votes electronically counted by yesterday afternoon, Ms Megawati's support was stable on 39.7 per cent, trailing her former chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was well ahead with 60.3 per cent of the vote.
Neither Ms Megawati nor Mr Yudhoyono made a public appearance yesterday, and it appeared both would wait for the National Election Commission's announcement of the final result on October 5.
A member of Ms Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) said she was in a meeting with party officials. "She will speak after the commission announces the result," Harto Kristanto said.
PDIP deputy general secretary Pramono Anung indirectly criticised the stance of Democratic Party leader Mr Yudhoyono on the results. Although Mr Yudhoyono did not formally claim victory, he came close, saying he expected to win. "If there is another side that feels it has won, they are too early," Mr Anung said. Indonesia's new president will be sworn in on October 20.
Mr Yudhoyono rested yesterday and received guests, including his running mate Yusuf Kalla and leaders of supporting parties, at his home in Cikeas, south of Jakarta.
Indonesia's next vice-president, Mr Kalla, told reporters the new cabinet would be announced at the inauguration on October 20.
He said ministers now serving could be included in the new government, "The next government will continue from the current government, to avoid any tremors," he said.
Monday's election proceeded smoothly, with almost no violence. Two men were arrested for burning tyres in Bali, but the passion of supporters remained in control, perhaps because Ms Megawati addressed the nation before the election, asking people to stay calm.
The US States congratulated Indonesia and said the ballot set a good example of democracy for Asia. "What we have seen is that these elections have set a strong example for the region and emerging democracies everywhere," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said. "We congratulate Indonesia on the conclusion of these historic elections."
Mr Ereli said the US was "a close friend and partner" of Indonesia. "We therefore strongly support their democratic process."
Indonesia's stocks, bonds and currency strengthened after the vote. An analysism of returns backed by the Washington-based National Democratic Institute, released on Monday night, found Mr Yudhoyono would have a landslide victory, with 61.2 per cent of the vote, handsomely beating Ms Sukarnoputri, who took 38.8 per cent.
The analysis, which has a margin of error of 1.1 per cent, found Ms Megawati had most support in eastern Indonesia: in Papua, Maluku, Bali and Nusa Tenggara Timor. Mr Yudhoyono won strongly – as much as 80 per cent of the vote – in the troubled province of Aceh, where a separatist conflict has raged for years, and also did very well in West Sumatra.
The press praised the vote, which followed the successful completion of legislative elections in April and a July first-round presidential vote, as "an end to uncertainty".
The Koran Tempo daily said the next leader, directly elected by the people, "has the opportunity to end long-dragging uncertainty" in the economic field. "We hope the end to uncertainty this time is real and becomes the starting point for better development in the economy."
The English-language Jakarta Post said Indonesia had made history with the successful completion of a series of peaceful elections.
[With additional reporting from AFP.]