This week, the Indonesian media was still preoccupied with the results and consequences of the April 9 legislative elections. But on Thursday, there was a shocking but also funny announcement from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM). The agency had found several brands of beef jerky that contained pork. One of the brands, Lezaat Beef Jerky, has a halal label on it, certified by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI). For Indonesian Muslims this news is unsettling because how can they now be sure their food is halal when even MUI-certification is no guarantee?

But, there was good news for press freedom. The Supreme Court dropped a lower court ruling which had obliged Time magazine to compensate the family of the late former president Soeharto's to the tune of US$106 million. In its May 1999 edition, the magazine had reported the Soeharto's family had stolen $15 billion from Indonesia's coffers during his 32-year rein. Soeharto had insisted that had not a single cent in his bank account. (Of course, no bank would allow their customers to have only one cent in an account).

At least until Thursday - when the Golkar Party is expected to nominate its vice presidential candidate - Vice President Jusuf Kalla may not be getting much sleep. Kalla, who is also the Golkar Party chairman, not only has to swallow his own words to contest the July presidential election, but his own party may even abandon him and nominate another party member to become President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's partner - of course with the approval of Yudhoyono -- in the July presidential election.

Before the April 9 legislative election, it seemed that the vice presidential position for another five-year term was guaranteed for Kalla. Yudhoyono reportedly felt offended at Kalla's determination to abandon him. Now the President has a much higher bargaining position than any potential rivals. Yudhoyono is now able to set up strict terms and conditions for other political parties wanting to join his winning wagon.

During the legislative election campaign, Kalla seemed very confident that his party, Golkar, could beat Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (PD). In his TV ads, while rolling his sleeves, the Golkar chairman had boasted, "the faster, the better," which meant that if the party won, he would make the country's development faster and more effictive.

Those around him apparently succeeded in - wrongly - convincing Kalla that he was close to the presidential seat. Kalla and his party have clearly been overconfident. Preliminary results and quick counts show that Yudhoyono will likely be unbeatable in the July presidential election.

But it does not mean that Kalla's political career will be finished. Just few months after winning the presidential and vice presidential election, in December 2004 Kalla could easily knock out Akbar Tandjung in the party chairmanship race. Who knows - he could use the same recipe this week: A combination of money and power. But Kalla needs to be careful, because Akbar apparently wants to try his last fortune this week in regaining the Golkar post.

We do hope that in the July 8 presidential election, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP-P) will keep its plan to send its boss Megawati Soekarnoputri - or somebody else - to challenge Yudhoyono. For the sake of democracy, there shouldn't be a one-man show in the election. If Megawati fails, and if Kalla is no longer Yudhoyono's running mate, they will join the club of the losers from the legislative elections. Thousands of failed candidates reportedly are suffering mentally because of the results. Then Megawati and Kalla could prove their leadership among the losers. Win or lose, it is all still just a game - and not one to be taken too seriously.

It is also a possibility that the losers (parties or legislative candidates) in the legislative election may not accept their defeat because they believe it was the chaotic mismanagement of the General Elections Commission (KPU) that should be held responsible for their misery. The Constitutional Court will soon be flooded with complaints from various parties. Is it possible that violence and riots will mark the protests of the losers and those who lost their constitutional rights to elect and to be elected? Remembering that the contestants have spent much of their energy and resources on their campaigns, they will not likely be able to finance street protests or violence.

***

Forget the US economic collapse for a moment. President Barack Obama eventually delivered his election campaign promise to his daughters Malia and Sasha that he would give them a pet if he won the presidential election. Senator Edward Kennedy gave the two girls a Portuguese water dog and they named the puppy Bo. At least Obama could prove his daughters could count on him. Hopefully Obama will be able to deliver more of his fundamental election promises - the economic revival, and a better respect for the outside world.

The world's largest democracy, India, is holding month-long general elections. More than 700 million people (Indonesia's recent elections saw around 170 million voters) are expected to go to the polls. The Congress Party believes it will win and that incumbent prime minister Manmohan Singh will win his reelection bid. Voters in the world's the second largest democracy, the US, have mandated Obama (in November last year) to lead the world's only superpower. Indonesian voters may extend the mandate of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for another five years, in July.

- Kornelius Purba

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