Vote counting begins in Indonesian presidential election
An estimated 75 percent of 190 million eligible voters turned out to vote on the country's closest-ever election
10 July 2014, 8:32am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
1 min read
An official voting ballot for the Indonesian presidential elections. (Photo: Dimas Ardian)
Indonesia’s election commission began the task of tallying about 140 million votes to meet a two-week deadline to announce the winner of the country’s closest-ever presidential election after both candidates claimed victory.
Unofficial counts by most survey companies showed Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, 53, secured more votes than Suharto-era general Prabowo Subianto, 62.
Both candidates in their victory speeches called on supporters to guard against attempts to manipulate the tally, while outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged supporters on both sides to remain calm following the vote.
Hundreds of thousands of police and troops were deployed across the country to keep order before the polls opened, with the military cautioning that a margin of victory of less than 5% could lead to unrest in a nation where elections have largely been peaceful affairs.
