Indonesia's Megawati Picks Special Forces Gen As Running Mate []

Agence France Presse Saturday, May 16, 2009

Jakarta: Indonesia's former president Megawati Sukarnoputri named late Friday a notorious former special forces general, Prabowo Subianto, as her running mate for July presidential elections.

The Megawati-Prabowo ticket is being touted as the biggest rival to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking re-election for a second five-year term.

"We'd like to work together and make Indonesians more prosperous through our populist vision and mission," Megawati said.

Prabowo's Gerindra Party, which has a populist economic ideology, is a newcomer in Indonesia's political arena.

Megawati, who heads the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, gained a reputation for inaction during her 2001-2004 presidential term.

Opinion polls showed that Megawati lagged behind Yudhoyono, who has named central bank Gov. Boediono as his running mate, for the presidential elections.

Yudhoyono's Democrats won 21% of ballots cast in April 9 legislative polls, nearly tripling their total from 2004 and becoming the strongest party in parliament.

PDI-P secured 14% of the votes while Gerindra had about 5.5%.

Megawati is the daughter of the country's founder, former president Sukarno.

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Kalla-Wiranto, the first candidates to register at KPU []

the Jakarta Post Saturday, 16 May 2009

Jakarta: Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto registered themselves as presidential and vice presidential candidates at the General Elections Commission (KPU) Saturday morning, becoming the first official pair of presidential candidates.

Kalla arrived at the KPU office at around 10 a.m., escourted by local traditional music performances, including Islamic-themed "rebana" and Jakarta-native music Tajidor.

Later in the day, the pair of Megawati Soekarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to come to KPU at around 1 p.m.

Then, the pair of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono will register themselves at the KPU at around 3 p.m.

Saturday is the last day for the presidential candidates to register at the KPU.

The three pairs of presidential candidates will contest the upcoming presidential elections on July 8.

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