2009 Indonesian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Indonesia on 8 July 2009. The elections returned a president and vice president for the 2009–2014 term. Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, elected with a 20% margin in the 2004 election, sought a second term against former President Megawati Sukarnoputri in a rematch of the 2004 election, as well as incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Securing a majority of the votes in a landslide victory in the first round, Yudhoyono was re-elected without the need to proceed to a second round.[1][2] Yudhoyono was officially declared the victor of the election on 23 July 2009, by the General Election Commission (KPU).[3] At the time of his re-election victory, Yudhoyono, with nearly 74 million votes in his favour, held the record for the highest number of votes for a single person in any democratic election in history, surpassing Barack Obama's total of 69.5 million votes in the 2008 United States presidential election.[4] His record was surpassed by his respective successors Joko Widodo who won more than 85 million votes in 2019 and Prabowo Subianto who won more than 96 million votes in 2024.

2009 Indonesian presidential election

← 2004 8 July 2009 (2009-07-08) 2014 →
Registered176,367,056 (Increase 13.75%)
Turnout72.57% (Decrease 5.66pp)
 
Candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Megawati Sukarnoputri Jusuf Kalla
Party Demokrat PDI-P Golkar
Alliance Joint Secretariat Mega–Prabowo JK–Wiranto
Running mate Boediono Prabowo Subianto Wiranto
Popular vote 73,874,562 32,548,105 15,081,814
Percentage 60.80% 26.79% 12.41%

Results by province

President before election

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Demokrat

Elected President

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Demokrat

Background

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This was the second election in which Indonesians elected their President and Vice President directly. In 2004, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono defeated incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in a run-off election. Polls through early January 2009 saw Yudhoyono leading a large field of potential presidential candidates.[5]

Incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla announced in February 2009 that he would not be returning as a vice presidential candidate with Yudhoyono. Instead, he was ready to challenge Yudhoyono should Golkar, the party which he chaired, nominate him as a presidential candidate.[6] Other individuals interested in becoming presidential candidates included former President Abdurrahman Wahid,[7] former People's Representative Council (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung,[8] Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwana X,[9] and former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.[10]

On 17 February, the Constitutional Court ruled that independent candidates would not be allowed to run in the election.[11]

Coalition talks

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Following legislative elections held on 9 April, coalitions of political parties began to emerge in order to nominate candidates for President and Vice President. Under the 2008 Presidential Election Law, the candidates must be nominated by a party or coalition that won at least 25% of the popular vote or 112 (20%) of 560 seats of the DPR.[12] Indonesia's Constitutional Court also ruled that independent candidates would not be allowed to run.[13] Candidates had to officially register with the KPU by midnight of 16 May in order to appear on the ballots.[14]

It initially appeared that Golkar, the party of incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla, would enter into a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri to challenge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party. However, talks were broken off on 13 April 2009, with Golkar reportedly more interested in continuing the coalition with Yudhoyono rather than risk being cut off from power completely. Yudhoyono was also in talks with Islamist parties in a bid to form a coalition controlling more than half the seats in parliament.[15][16][17]

By late April 2009, Golkar was in talks with smaller parties to gain the votes it lacked to be able to nominate Kalla as a presidential candidate.[18] A ten-party coalition was formed on 1 May, consisting of Golkar, PDI-P, the Gerindra Party, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party (PBR), the Ulema National Awakening Party (PKNU), the National People's Concern Party (PPRN), the Labor Party and the Indonesian Nahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI). Two parties who had been considering joining the coalition, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP), in the end, decided not to join.[19] Shortly after the ten-party coalition was announced, incumbent Vice President Kalla announced a joint ticket with former Indonesian military leader Wiranto.[20]

The PDI-P selected former president Megawati as its presidential candidate on 7 May but did not immediately announce a running mate.[21] The possibility of Gerindra leader Prabowo Subianto becoming Megawati's running mate had been favoured by PDI-P leadership, but the two parties had yet to come to an agreement two days before the 16 May candidate registration deadline.[22][23] After plans to announce the pair's candidacy were postponed to allow for continuing negotiations, both parties eventually declared on 15 May the nomination of Megawati and Prabowo as candidates for president and vice president.[24]

In the scenario that either Kalla or Megawati would have lost his or her bid for the presidency in the first election round, one candidate would have supported the other in the second round, as agreed upon by the grand coalition formed to oppose incumbent President Yudhoyono.[25]

On 12 May 2009, Yudhoyono chose Boediono, the governor of Bank Indonesia (Indonesia's central bank), as his running mate.[26] Four parties which had planned to form a coalition with Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (PAN, PPP, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)) had expected that the vice presidential nominee would come from one of their parties. Although they threatened to form their own coalition with Gerindra and present their own candidate, PKB became the first party in the coalition to support Yudhoyono's decision.[27][28] The remaining three parties eventually agreed to support the Yudhoyono–Boediono ticket and attended the nomination ceremony in Bandung on 15 May.[29]

Political party Supporting
For President For Vice President
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Sukarnoputri
(PDI-P)
Prabowo Subianto
(Gerindra)
Gerindra Party (Gerindra)
Sovereignty Party (Partai Kedaulatan)
Functional Party of Struggle (PKP)
Indonesian National Party Marhaenism (PNI Marhaenisme)
Labor Party (Partai Buruh)
Indonesian Nahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI)
Indonesian Unity Party (PSI)
Freedom Party (Partai Merdeka)
Democratic Party (PD) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
(Demokrat)
Boediono
(Independent)
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)
National Mandate Party (PAN)
United Development Party (PPP)
National Awakening Party (PKB)
Crescent Star Party (PBB)
Prosperous Peace Party (PDS)
Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB)
Reform Star Party (PBR)
National People's Concern Party (PPRN)
Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI)
Democratic Renewal Party (PDP)
Indonesian Workers and Employers Party (PPPI)
Archipelago Republic Party (PRN)
Patriot Party (Partai Patriot)
Indonesian National Populist Fortress Party (PNBK)
Indonesian Youth Party (PPI)
National Sun Party (PMB)
Pioneers' Party (Partai Pelopor)
Indonesian Democratic Party of Devotion (PKDI)
Prosperous Indonesia Party (PIS)
New Indonesia Party of Struggle (PPIB)
Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI)
Golkar Jusuf Kalla
(Golkar)
Wiranto
(Hanura)
People's Conscience Party (Hanura)
Source: Tempo[30]

Candidates

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Nominees for president and vice president registered their candidacy at the central KPU office in Jakarta on 16 May. Candidates underwent physical and psychological evaluations at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital following registration. Personality tests were also conducted using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.[31][32]

Megawati Sukarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto

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The pair of Megawati Sukarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto is referred to colloquially by the Indonesian media as Mega–Pro.[33] These two candidates belong to opposing ideological backgrounds. Prabowo's father, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, was a political enemy of Megawati's father, former President Sukarno.[34]

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono

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Initially, the pair of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono was referred to colloquially by the Indonesian media as SBY Berbudi.[33] Three days after the slogan was announced, the campaign team had changed its name to SBY–Boediono due to concerns that the term berbudi was not as well known outside Java.[35]

Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto

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The pair of Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto is referred to colloquially by the Indonesian media as JK–Win.[33]

Nominees

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Schedule

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Voters in a polling station in North Jakarta receiving their ballot to vote in the election.

Candidates had to register from 10–16 May, with medical checks, which they all passed,[36] from 11–15 May.[37] The candidates were officially announced on 28 May[38] and drew their ballot numbers at the KPU building on 31 May.[39] Megawati–Prabowo drew number 1, SBY–Boediono number 2 and Kalla–Wiranto number 3.[39]

The presidential election campaign began on 2 June and ran until 4 July, with mass rallies allowed from 12 June onwards. Those participating in the campaign were not allowed to question the basis of the Indonesian state, insult the race or religion of candidates, use threats or violence or give financial or material incentives to voters.[40] There were a series of debates between 18 June and 2 July that were carried live on Indonesian television, three between the presidential candidates and two between the vice-presidential candidates. The topics for these two-hour debates were agreed in advance, and by common consent, did not explicitly include human rights issues.[41]

After a two-day "silent period", voting took place on 8 July. National election results are due to be announced between 27 and 29 July. Following a period to allow for legal challenges, the final results will be announced between 1 and 12 August. If the election goes to a second round, the second campaign period will run from 15 July – 7 September, with the vote on 8 September. The final result is due to be announced on 8 October, with the president and vice-president being sworn before the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in 20 October.[42]

Results

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CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoBoedionoDemocratic Party73,874,56260.80
Megawati SukarnoputriPrabowo SubiantoIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle32,548,10526.79
Jusuf KallaWirantoGolkar15,081,81412.41
Total121,504,481100.00
Valid votes121,504,48194.94
Invalid/blank votes6,479,1745.06
Total votes127,983,655100.00
Registered voters/turnout176,367,05672.57
Source: IFES, BPS

By province

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Province Yudhoyono Megawati Kalla
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Aceh 2,093,567 93.25 53,835 2.40 97,717 4.35
North Sumatra 4,234,116 71.36 1,395,532 23.52 303,684 5.12
West Sumatra 1,828,155 79.93 134,662 5.89 324,336 14.18
Riau 1,502,684 64.07 555,564 23.69 287,067 12.24
Riau Islands 481,795 64.36 198,364 26.50 68,417 9.14
Bangka Belitung Islands 267,914 48.74 211,984 38.56 69,796 12.70
Jambi 927,038 59.41 455,239 29.17 178,223 11.42
South Sumatra 2,075,451 54.07 1,518,648 39.57 244,245 6.36
Bengkulu 545,327 64.14 197,566 23.24 107,338 12.62
Lampung 2,803,691 70.23 963,228 24.13 225,426 5.65
Jakarta 3,543,472 70.36 1,028,227 20.42 464,257 9.22
West Java 14,385,202 65.08 5,793,987 26.21 1,925,533 8.71
Central Java 9,281,132 53.06 6,694,981 38.28 1,514,316 8.66
Yogyakarta 1,219,187 61.71 555,071 28.10 201,389 10.19
East Java 11,732,298 60.32 5,916,628 30.42 1,801,836 9.26
Banten 3,350,243 65.06 1,389,285 26.98 410,270 7.97
Bali 822,951 43.03 992,815 51.92 96,571 5.05
West Nusa Tenggara 1,693,864 74.63 188,705 8.31 387,257 17.06
East Nusa Tenggara 1,125,592 52.73 881,761 41.30 127,441 5.97
West Kalimantan 1,235,144 54.03 848,603 37.12 202,459 8.86
Central Kalimantan 491,319 48.32 430,087 42.30 95,305 9.37
South Kalimantan 1,106,775 64.02 376,941 21.80 245,142 14.18
East Kalimantan 833,059 51.89 443,323 27.61 328,990 20.49
North Sulawesi 691,954 54.82 393,147 31.15 177,174 14.04
Central Sulawesi 669,413 50.53 110,627 8.35 544,758 41.12
South Sulawesi 1,335,115 31.62 167,970 3.98 2,719,701 64.41
Southeast Sulawesi 499,075 45.61 87,536 8.00 507,504 46.38
West Sulawesi 293,778 50.75 26,815 4.63 258,336 44.62
Gorontalo 241,222 44.22 35,225 6.46 269,057 49.32
North Maluku 214,757 38.94 112,173 20.34 224,583 40.72
Maluku 423,165 53.70 192,978 24.49 171,842 21.81
Papua 1,377,384 74.05 104,593 5.62 378,119 20.33
West Papua 313,577 73.95 44,484 10.49 65,982 15.56
Overseas 235,146 69.08 47,521 13.96 57,743 16.96
Total 73,874,562 60.80 32,548,105 26.79 15,081,814 12.41
Source: General Elections Commission

Quick count results

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Organization Megawati – Prabowo SBY – Boediono Jusuf Kalla – Wiranto
Cirus Surveyor Group 27.49% 60.20% 12.31%
Indonesian Survey Circle 27.36% 60.15% 12.49%
Indonesian Survey Institute 26.56% 60.85% 12.59%
Information Research Institute 27.02% 61.11% 11.87%
LP3ES 27.40% 60.28% 12.32%
Metro TV 27.45% 59.18% 13.37%
Puskaptis 28.16% 57.95% 13.89%
Source: The Jakarta Post,[43] Metro TV,[44] detikcom[45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Yang, Lina (23 January 2009). "Indonesia's presidential election day set at July 8". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 27 January 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Indonesia's president re-elected: No wonder why with SBY". The Economist. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  3. ^ Andra Wisnu (24 July 2009). "SBY officially declared winner". The Jakarta Post. p. 2.
  4. ^ "How Do Other Countries Elect Presidents Without An Electoral College? Pretty easily". The Washington Post. 20 December 2016.
  5. ^ "More Support New Susilo Term in Indonesia". Angus Reid Global Monitor. 8 January 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  6. ^ Adamrah, Mustaqim (21 February 2009). "Kalla ready to challenge SBY in polls". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Abdurrahman Wahid plans new bid for Indonesian presidency". Radio Australia. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  8. ^ "Akbar Tanjung ready to join next year's presidential election". ANTARA. 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  9. ^ "Indonesian sultan to run for president". ANTARA. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Sutiyoso Berpeluang Besar Jika Cermat Pilih Cawapres" (in Indonesian). Suara Merdeka. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  11. ^ Pasandaran, Camelia (18 February 2009). "Court Rules Out Independent Candidates for '09". Jakarta Globe.
  12. ^ "Many votes to count". The Economist. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  13. ^ "23 Parties Join Forces To Fight Election Limits". Jakarta Globe. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  14. ^ "KPU urge presidential candidates to register before deadline passed". The Jakarta Post. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009. [dead link]
  15. ^ Ali, Muklis (13 April 2009). "Indonesia president's party eyes Golkar, Islamist pact". Reuters. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Democrat Party Exploring Coalition With Golkar". Bernama.com. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Indonesia coalition talks 'near'". BBC. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  18. ^ "Indonesia's second largest party seeks coalition with small parties". People's Daily. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  19. ^ Christanto, Dicky (1 May 2009). "Political parties ink coalition agreement". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  20. ^ "Indonesia's Kalla, Wiranto in presidency run". Agence France-Presse. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Indonesia's PDIP Party officially nominates Megawati as presidential candidate". People's Daily. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  22. ^ Sihaloho, Markus Junianto (2 May 2009). "PDI-P to Announce Megawati's Mate". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  23. ^ Sihaloho, Markus Junianto; Hutapea, Febriamy (15 May 2009). "Mega's Hopes Go Down to The Wire". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  24. ^ Hutapea, Febriamy; Sihaloho, Markus Junianto (16 May 2009). "With Mega and Prabowo In, A Three-Horse Race Begins". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  25. ^ Suhartono (16 May 2009). "JK-Win dan Mega-Pro Akan Saling Dukung" (in Indonesian). Kompas. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  26. ^ "SBY Akhirnya Pilih Boediono" (in Indonesian). Kompas. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  27. ^ "President Susilo's party allies threaten to withdraw support". People's Daily. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  28. ^ "PKB firm in its support for SBY-Boediono presidential ticket". ANTARA. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  29. ^ "Islamic Allies Give Nod to SBY's Choice And Return to the Coalition Talks Table". Jakarta Globe. 15 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  30. ^ (in Indonesian) Pramono (16 May 2009). "Sebanyak 23 Partai Dukung Pendaftaran SBY-Boediono". Tempo. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  31. ^ "Tiga Bakal Capres/Cawapres Mendaftar Ke KPU" (in Indonesian). Komisi Pemilihan Umum. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  32. ^ "Presidential and vice presidential hopefuls undergo screening". The Jakarta Post. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  33. ^ a b c Ulag, Luther (16 May 2009). "SBY Dapat Lawan Tangguh" (in Indonesian). Suara Pembaruan. Retrieved 17 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ Tamatnya Ideologi dan Latar Belakang (Television production) (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Media Indonesia. 28 April 2009. Event occurs at 2:05. Archived from the original (flv) on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  35. ^ "Slogan SBY Berbudi Diganti SBY-Boediono" (in Indonesian). Kompas. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  36. ^ Bayuni, Endy M. (4 June 2009). "The return of election fever". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  37. ^ SCHEDULE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS INDONESIA 2009[permanent dead link] at KPU website
  38. ^ Mariam, Yuki; Saraswati, Muninggar Sri (29 May 2009). "Campaigns Ignore KPU Rule". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  39. ^ a b Mariam, Yuki; Saraswati, Muninggar Sri (1 June 2009). "Megawati Gives SBY Cold Shoulder". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  40. ^ Campaign Leaflet from the General Elections Commission Archived 2013-12-25 at the Library of Congress Web Archives Indonesian
  41. ^ "Presidential hopefuls to debate poverty, unemployment". The Jakarta Post. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  42. ^ Kalsum, Umi; Kusumadewi, Anggi; Ahniar, Nur Farida; Darmawan, Agus Dwi; Galih, Bayu (20 October 2009). "Yudhoyono Resmi Presiden RI 2009-2014". Viva. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  43. ^ "Quick Counts of Presidential Election 2009". The Jakarta Post. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  44. ^ "HASIL SEMENTARA QUICK COUNT DAN REAL COUNT KPU". METRO TV NEWS. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  45. ^ "detikcom - Informasi Berita Terupdate Hari Ini". detiknews.
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