Indonesians vote calmly in 2nd direct presidential poll; Yudhoyono re-election expected

Indonesians vote calmly in presidential election

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesians voted in their emerging democracy’s second direct presidential election, with the incumbent expected to win a single-round victory on the back of recent economic and political stability.

An unofficial quick count at 2,000 polling stations with a fifth of ballots counted gave President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 54 percent of the vote, which would be enough to avoid a runoff in September.

Megawati Sukarnoputri, a former president whose father was the first leader of Indonesia, was second at 24 percent, with Vice President Jusuf Kalla at 22 percent.

The preliminary result was based on ballots from all 33 provinces and was conducted by the Indonesian Survey Circle, which has accurately forecast previous elections, and broadcast on the TVOne television broadcaster.