Jakarta governor ready for runoff after Jokowi surge

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo says he is ready for a runoff, after early quick counts of election returns show him nine points behind Surakarta Mayor Joko Widodo on Wednesday.

“We have been preparing for one or two rounds of voting,” said Fauzi at Oasis Restaurant near his home in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Fauzi said that he would support whoever won the election in improving the city.

“I hope Jakarta will be better,” he said Wednesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

An initial quick count by the Indonesian Circle Survey (LSI) placed Fauzi in second place with 34.18 percent of the vote, behind Jokowi, with 43.04 percent.

A runoff between the two top finishers in the election will be required if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the first ballot. (riz)