[Early exit polls indicate] Yudhoyono 'wins Indonesia election'

[Turborama]

Source: The Times (UK)


Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has won today's general elections, early exit polls indicate.

Mr Yudhoyono appears to be far ahead of his rivals with one survey showing him to have 51.07 percent of the vote even before polls in some parts of the country had closed.

The Metro Television survey showed the president's challengers, Vice President Yusuf Kalla and former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, had 15.2 percent and 19.21 percent, respectively.

If the exit polls are correct, the former general and servant of a dictator who became one of South East Asia’s most successful leaders, will become the first Indonesian President to be democratically re-elected.

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6665186.ece

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Profile of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)

Mr Yudhoyono, a retired army general, is seeking a second term. He was voted into office in 2004 in Indonesia's first direct presidential election.

Mr Yudhoyono has been happy to campaign on his economic record. Indonesia is one of the few big countries whose economy is still growing in the midst of the global recession.

Mr Yudhoyono has kept a strong lead in opinion polls through the campaign

The economy is projected to grow at around 4% in 2009, lower than in previous years but still respectable compared to Indonesia's closest neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia, which are experiencing economic contraction.

Mr Yudhoyono needed two rounds to win the election in 2004. This time, most polls suggest that he and his running mate, Mr Boediono, will wrap up the election in one round.

Polls suggest that he will get 52-67% of the vote, more than the 50% threshold required to win in the first round.

Like Jusuf Kalla he was a cabinet minister in Megawati Sukarnoputri's administration between 2001 and 2004.

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8130201.stm