Preliminary results from the first direct presidential election in Indonesia show that General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the former Minister of Security, is leading ahead of his competitors. The official results are expected to take a few days to be announced, but initial forecasts are said to be released on Tuesday. With less than two percent of the votes counted, Mr. Yudhoyono has so far secured 33 percent of the votes. Current President Megawati Sukarnoputri follows with 28 percent, and former military commander Wiranto has 22 percent. If no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the votes from Monday's election, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in a second round of elections in September. A large number of voters turned out for this election. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who monitored the elections in Jakarta, stated that he was impressed by what he called a well-organized and well-planned electoral process.
Preliminary Results of the First Presidential Election in Indonesia
The preliminary results of Indonesia's first direct presidential election indicate that General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is leading with 33% of the votes. Current President Megawati Sukarnoputri and former military commander Wiranto follow with 28% and 22%, respectively. If no candidate achieves a majority, a runoff will occur in September.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Preliminary results from Indonesia's first direct presidential election show General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono leading with 33% of the votes. If no candidate achieves a majority, a runoff election will occur in September.
- Yudhoyono leads with 33% of the votes counted.
- A runoff election will be held if no candidate receives at least 50%.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Indonesia is transitioning to a more democratic system after decades of authoritarian rule, making this election a pivotal moment in its political evolution.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%