Yudhoyono thanks Megawati, Kalla
Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 08/20/2009 10:48 PM
President re-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his gratitude to friends and foes in his acceptance speech on Thursday night.
The litany of individuals and organizations he thanked included his Democratic Party’s coalition partners, campaign team members, supporters, election bodies and supervisors, and Indonesian people in general, before paying a tribute to his contenders.
"I extend my respect for Ibu Megawati and Pak Prabowo, and for Pak Jusuf Kalla and Pak Wiranto for their active participation as presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2009 presidential election," Yudhoyono told hundreds of supporters at Jakarta Fair ground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
He was accompanied by his running mate, now vice president-elect Boediono.
Yudhoyono also thanked world leaders for congratulating his re-election.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) declared Yudhoyono and his running mate former central bank governor Boediono the winning pair of the election late last month after securing over 60 percent of the vote.
The pair, however, delayed their acceptance speech because their contenders immediately challenged their victory at the Constitutional Court.
The court upheld the election results last week.
