Dicky Christanto and Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – All three presidential tickets registered themselves for the July 8 polls with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday, which is expected to be a neck-and-neck affair.
The presidential candidate from the coalition of Golkar Party and People's Conscience (Hanura) Party, Jusuf Kalla, said all three tickets stood an equal chance of winning the election, which will see voters elect their national leaders directly for the second time in the country's history.
"They are both tough rivals," Kalla said at the KPU office, referring to the duo of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono and the pairing of Megawati Soekarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto.
Kalla's running mate, Wiranto, said the three presidential tickets were the nation's best figures to lead the country in the next five years.
A ticket needs 50 percent of the valid votes to directly secure the presidential and vice presidential tickets. If no candidates win the simple majority, a runoff pitting the top two tickets will be held on Sept. 8.
The Yudhoyono-Boediono and Megawati-Prabowo tickets were declared Friday evening, after each came through an energy-sapping negotiation that was settled at the last minute.
Yudhoyono and his running mate Bank Indonesia Governor Boediono were nominated by a coalition of 23 parties led by the Democratic Party (PD), of which Yudhoyono is the paramount chief patron.
Former president Megawati and former army strategic reserve command chief Prabowo are supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and seven parties that failed to win House of Representatives seats.
"The coalition of parties is out to help SBY and Boediono win the election," said PD chief Hadi Utomo, who is Yudhoyono's in-law.
Yudhoyono said he and his partner were ready to face every step of the race, which he hoped would run in a fair, orderly and dignified manner.
"If the rules of the game require us to face other candidates in an open debate, election rally or whatever, we hope all will be conducted in an ethical and civilized way."
Cabinet ministers Hatta Rajasa, Suryadharma Ali and Sudi Silalahi, in their capacity as leaders of parties that supported Yudhoyono's reelection bid, were also present in the registration process.
PDI-P Secretary General Pramono Anung expressed his optimism that Megawati and Prabowo would win the competition. "They are the most ideal ticket, combining the most beautiful and the most handsome candidates," Pramono said at the KPU building, to the audience's mirth.
Megawati said she felt proud to partner with Prabowo, Gerindra's chief patron, whose bright military career included a three-year spell as the army's special force commander. Prabowo was also married to the daughter of Soeharto, Indonesia's longest serving president.
"Of course his track record will make it easier for Indonesian people to vote for us," Megawati said, ignoring the persistent campaign launched by human rights groups against Prabowo for his alleged connection with past atrocities.
Megawati lost to Yudhoyono in the runoff five years ago.
Gerindra deputy chairman Fadlizon said the coalition of parties supporting Megawati and Prabowo would support Kalla and Wiranto in the second round or vice versa, citing an agreement between the parties to form a parliamentary coalition earlier this month. (fmb)