Soekarwo elected governor in East Java

East Java gubernatorial candidate pair Soekarwo and Saifullah Yusuf were named the winners in Tuesday's election with 7,729,944 votes, or 50.2 percent, in their favor, confounding earlier predictions.

Their rival pair, Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Mudjiono, trailed closely with 7,699,721 votes. The elections mark the first-ever direct elections in the province and the most populous regional elections in the country to date.

Commenting on his win, Soekarwo said he expected East Java citizens to remain calm after the election results were announced.

"I believe people are not easily provoked. The result is God's will," he said, as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.

The pair, nominated by the National Mandate (PAN) and Democratic parties, won handily in 22 cities and regencies, including Bangkalan, Magetan, Ngawi, Pamekasan and Sampang.

Earlier in the day, soldiers and police officers had deployed thousands of anti-riot personnel and several water cannons to increase security around the Mercure Hotel where the votes were being tallied.

Thousands of supporters of both camps had thronged the hotel, demanding an accurate and transparent count. (dre)