Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono secured his re-election Wednesday after the Constitutional Court issued a verdict dismissing allegations of electoral fraud filed by the losing candidates.

However, as yet, losing hopefuls Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla have not congratulated Yudhoyono on his re-election. Both Megawati and Kalla conceded that they would accept the court's ruling.

The General Elections Commission (KPU), the defendant in the electoral fraud lawsuit filed separately by the campaign teams of Kalla and Megawati, hailed the court's decision, saying the commission could now focus on preparing the inauguration ceremony for Yudhoyono and his running mate Boediono in October.

"The ruling shows there is no evidence of the alleged electoral fraud or other violations during the presidential election," KPU member Andi Nurpati told reporters at the court. "We now can focus on preparing for the ceremony to inaugurate the elected President and Vice President."

On July 25, the KPU officially declared Yudhoyono and Boediono, nominated by the Democratic Party, as winners of the July 8 election with 60.80 percent of the votes.

Megawati from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and her running mate Prabowo Subianto of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) came in a distant second with 26.79 percent.

Incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla of the Golkar Party and Wiranto from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) could only garner 12.41 percent of the votes.

However, Megawati and Kalla accused the KPU of having rigged the election with about 28 million names incorrectly included on the electoral roll.

The court said that no evidence had been presented to support the allegations. Constitutional Court chief, Mahfud MD, said the claim by the losing candidates that Yudhoyono had received additional votes while they had received less votes were also "legally baseless".

"The alleged criminal violations and other violations in the election can still be investigated but will not alter the result of the election," Mahfud told the hearing.

Short after the ruling, Megawati held a press conference at her house on Jl. Teuku Umar, also attended by Prabowo and PDI-P secretary-general, Pramono Anung.

"Though the verdict is not in line with our hopes, we can understand the court's verdict, with some reservations," Megawati, herself a former president, told reporters.

She admitted that the position of the Constitutional Court was vital to the country's legal system as it was the last "door" for anyone who wanted to struggle for better democracy in Indonesia.

A lawyer representing Megawati's team, Mohammad Assegaf said the court's decision was final and binding. "Like it or not, it (the ruling) must be accepted," he told reporters.

Megawati and Prabowo asked hundreds of their supporters, who were disappointed with the ruling, to remain calm in response to the verdict and avoid violence.

Hundreds of Megawati's supporters, riding motorcycles and cars, marched to the court to hear the verdict directly. They unfurled banners that read "reject the election violations".

A lawyer for Kalla's team admitted that the team had to accept the court's ruling.

"We accept and respect the ruling. It is final," Chairuman Harahap, the head of Kalla's legal team, said. "But many of the arguments raised by the court's judges remain in question."