Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is seeking another term in next week’s presidential election, attacked his opponents’ “extreme” campaign promises as candidates wrapped up their campaigning yesterday.
Yudhoyono, addressing a rally attended by thousands of his supporters at Jakarta’s Bung Karno main stadium, said he was no “Superman that could turn things around overnight.”
“Peace-loving Indonesians want a leader who solves problems peacefully and constitutionally, who does not have radical and extreme thoughts” Yudhoyono said.
Indonesians head to the polls on July 8.
Yudhoyono’s main rival, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, has promised to create double-digit growth, reschedule Indonesia’s foreign debt, and promote agriculture and fisheries to double the nation’s per capita annual income to 40mn rupiahs.
Indonesia is expected to post positive growth of between 3 and 4%, despite the ongoing global financial crisis.
Megawati’s running mate, former general Prabowo Subianto, has been accused by activists of human rights violations during his time in the military under former dictator Suharto.
Yudhoyono, himself a former general, is the favourite to win the election with a popularity rating at more than 50%.
His government has been credited with establishing political and economic stability as well as overseeing a strong anti-corruption drive. He has picked a respected economist and former central bank governor, Boedono, as his running mate in an effort to boost his economic credentials.
The other candidate is Jusuf Kalla, the current vice president and head of the Golkar Party, once Suharto’s political vehicle.
He has claimed credit for some of government successes, including the peace pact that ended decades of separatist conflict in Aceh province. DPA