The Final Push

MEGAWATI Soekarnoputri wiped away tears of joy. On the porch of her house in South Jakarta, last week, a television station was broadcasting exit poll results on the presidential election. The chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) burst into tears when the broadcaster declared Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla were ahead of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket.

Jokowi was reported to be leading by about 5 percent. "This is a present for Mbak Mega," said PDI-P member Pramono Anung, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).

July 15, 2014