PDI-P candidates lead in Bali poll

Dicky Christanto and Irawaty Wardhani , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar |

The candidates nominated by the Indonesian Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have secured more than 50 percent of the vote in Bali's first direct gubernatorial election, according to the results of a provisional quick count.

The results of the quick count, carried out by the Indonesia Survey Circle, put I Made Mangku Pastika and Anak Agung Ngurah Puspayoga on top with 56.40 percent.

In second place were Cokorda Budi Suryawan and Njoman Gede Suweta with 25.09 percent, followed by I Gede Winasa and IGB Alit Putra with 18.51 percent.

The team of Cokorda Budi Suryawan and Njoman Gede Suweta was supported by the Golkar party and the Bali People's Coalition, an alliance of four minor parties. The I Gede Winasa-IGB Alit Putra team was endorsed by the Bali Awakening Coalition, which comprises 12 minor parties.

"The survey was conducted by taking the results from 300 polling stations around the island as the sample. We consider the survey method and results to be adequate and valid, and believe they will be in line with the official result at the end of the counting process," Indonesian Survey Circle executive director Danny J.A. said Wednesday.

A separate quick count conducted by the Indonesia Survey Foundation at 400 polling stations yielded a similar result.

The foundation's Bali regional coordinator Bodrek Arsana said Mangku Pastika-Puspayoga had secured 54.94 percent of votes, while Cokorda Budi Suryawan - Njoman Gede Suweta had won 26.05 percent and I Gede Winasa - IGB Alit Putra had taken 19.01 percent.

"The voter turnout in this election was 76.63 percent," he said.

As many as 2,631,754 eligible voters cast their votes in the election.

Another quick count organized by four independent institutions at 251 polling stations across 211 villages showed Mangku Pastika-Puspayoga had garnered 51.69 percent of votes, Cokorda Budi Suryawan-Njoman Gede Suweta 31.49 percent, and I Gede Winasa-IGB Alit Putra 16.04 percent.

Mangku Pastika took the news of his likely victory calmly.

"This victory is the victory of all Balinese people," he said.

Pastika, a three-star police general, earned international recognition for his role leading the investigation team that apprehended the terrorists responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings.

He later served as the Bali Police chief before being promoted to head the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

Mangku Pastika praised the Balinese people for exercising their political rights in a peaceful manner.

"This reflects the political maturity of the Balinese people," he said.

He urged supporters of his rival candidates to put their differences behind them and work together to build a better Bali.

"I will contact the other candidates and ask them for their advice and input," he said.

The head of Mangku Pastika - Puspayoga's campaign team, Adi Wiryatama, said his party would continue to support the pair once they were sworn in as the new governor and vice governor.

He said PDI-P controlled 35 of the 55 seats in the Bali Legislative Council and the party would use its majority to support programs put forward by Mangku Pastika and Puspayoga.

"But we will not hesitate to warn them if they forget the political promises they have made," he said.

Mangku Pastika and Puspayoga paid an evening visit to the PDI-P chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, at her family's beachside villa in Cucukan, Gianyar. Megawati was accompanied by her husband, Taufik Kiemas, and the PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung.