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Jokowi admits results not as expected
Despite a preliminary victory, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s presidential candidate, Joko âJokowiâ Widodo, admitted that results were not as expected
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espite a preliminary victory, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s presidential candidate, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, admitted that results were not as expected.
The PDI-P had set a target of gaining 27 percent of the vote in Wednesday's legislative election.
'All political parties worked their socks off at the grassroots level. The battle was very tough,' Jokowi said at his official residence on Wednesday.
When asked about potential fraudulent practices during the election, he said, 'I have no idea. I haven't received reports of any.'
Political analyst Yudi Latief said that the results showed that the Jokowi effect had failed to boost the party's votes this time around.
'The Jokowi effect has failed to influence the results. There were 6,600 candidates competing at the grassroots level,' Yudi told a press conference at the JKW4P media center in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Yudi said, however, that hopes were still high for the party in the upcoming presidential election, slated for July 9.
'During the presidential election, the figures' strength will play an important role. The PDI-P gained 14 percent during the 2009 election and it will definitely gain more this time around. This is good capital for Jokowi,' he said.
Later in the evening, Jokowi said that he was happy with the preliminary results from a number of pollsters .
"Our target, as decided in the party's coordinating meeting, is 27 percent. But, the people have made their choices and we are happy with the results. We thank everyone who has voted us," he said on a talk show aired by a private TV station.
He said that battle in the legislative election was tough, as more than 6,600 candidates fought to secure seats in legislatures across the archipelago.
"The battle in presidential election will be different because there will only be two, three or four [presidential] candidates," he said. (nfo/nvn)
