JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Indonesia’s voters handed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a second five-year term yesterday, placing their faith in his firm hand on the economic tiller and his promises to quicken the pace of reform.
Officials results from the election will not be announced until later this month, but “quick count” results — which have proved extremely reliable in the past — showed Yudhoyono had won enough votes to avoid a second run-off with his nearest rival.
Not known for jumping to a conclusion, even the cautious Yudhoyono acknowledged his own resounding victory as the results rolled in from across the archipelago of 226 million people.
“My first priority will be recovering our economy,” the former army general told reporters at his home after a peaceful and low-key day of voting in the world’s third-largest democracy.
The LSI polling agency’s sample of votes showed Yudhoyono’s tally stood at a commanding 60.82 percent. Other counts put his score slightly lower, but all showed him comfortably above the halfway mark needed to avoid a second round.
The election, only the second direct vote for a president in Indonesia, cements the country’s transition to democracy after a chequered history. It is also likely to usher in an acceleration of reforms in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy that could lure foreign investment, create jobs and shore up flagging growth.
