THREE WAY RACE SET FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
16 Mei 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set for a three-way race in elections on July 8 after former President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Saturday (16/5) cemented her coalition plans with the Greater Indonesia Movement Party.
Yudhoyono, a popular reformer who is heavily tipped to be re-elected, also faces a challenge from Vice President Jusuf Kalla, also finalized his presidential ticket at the General Elections Commission in Jakarta on Saturday (16/5).
On Friday(15/5), Yudhoyono confirmed his Vice Presidential running mate would be central bank governor Boediono. Yudhoyono's approval rating of 67%, against 12% for Megawati and 2% for Kalla, makes it almost certain he will win a second term, bar some unexpected blow.
The outcome of the presidential vote could affect the pace of reforms that are critical for attracting investment, creating jobs and driving economic growth which slowed in the first quarter of 2009 to its weakest in five years "He (Boediono) will help me to overcome the economic crisis," Yudhoyono told a ceremony in Bandung.
Boediono, 66, is a respected technocrat who has held high-profile jobs in the cabinet and central bank during Indonesia's crisis years of the late 1990s and subsequent recovery. His candidacy, which had been widely expected, has been seen as market-friendly and was welcomed by analysts because of his clean image.
"Boediono is probably the cleanest out there," said Anton Gunawan, chief economist at Danamon Bank. "Even when he was a minister he still lived in his own house and doesn't like to have the official car." Boediono confirmed on Friday he had submitted his resignation as central bank governor, news that prompted a stock market sell-off on concerns about the course of monetary policy.
Megawati, who lost to Yudhoyono in 2004 elections, will run with Prabowo Subianto, a former general who has faced questions over his human rights record in the Suharto era.
Sumber: Trade and Investment News - www.ekon.go.id
