Fauzi phones Jokowi to concede following quick count

It will not be until Oct. 3 that the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) announces the final vote tally in the gubernatorial runoff, but incumbent Fauzi Bowo has delivered a gallant concession to his challenger Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who is regarded as having won the election.

Fauzi reportedly made a phone call to congratulate Jokowi shortly after polling ended on Thursday.

“Around two minutes ago, Fauzi congratulated me by phone,” Jokowi confirmed.

During the five-minute phone call, Jokowi said that he had asked Fauzi to help him with advice on making improvements to Jakarta should he, Jokowi, be elected as governor, as he considered Fauzi very knowledgeable about Jakarta.

“Fauzi has agreed to lend me a hand,” said the Surakarta Mayor.

Pollsters have presented their quick-count results for the Jakarta runoff which show a Jokowi victory over Fauzi, who is paired with Democratic Party politician Nachrowi Ramli.

A quick count by Kompas daily stated that Jokowi, who is backed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), finished first by securing 53.26 percent of the vote.

Another quick count performed by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) said that Jokowi secured 53.81 percent of the vote and Fauzi netted 46.19 percent.

Pollster Indo Barometer’s quick count also showed that the Surakarta mayor was headed for Jakarta’s top office, reporting that Jokowi secured 54.11 percent of the total vote, to Foke’s 45.89 percent.

The two pairs met in the runoff after neither managed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote during the first round of the gubernatorial election held on July 11. (riz/lfr)