Moderate Fauzi Is The New Governor Of Jakarta
ICC Note: Early results from the Jakarta Governors election indicate that the candidate backed by the Islamic party is not nlikely to win.
8/9/07 Indonesia (AsiaNews) Fauzi Bowo, better known by the nickname Foke, in all probability is the new governor of Jakarta . While official results from the capitals elections yesterday are due out next week, exit polls already assign victory to Fauzi. Turnout was low for these the first elections directed by Jakarta for the position of Governor, a post up until now, appointed by the government. Voters were discouraged by the fact that less than half of the citizens have they right to vote and the complex voting mechanism.
Foke, the current vice governor, studied at the prestigious Kolese Kanisius High School, run by the Jesuits, while Priyanto is a former army general who is involved in territorial issues.
The victorious couple won 56.12%; supported by 20 different political formations including the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democracy Party Struggle (PDIP), they are considered to be two nationalists, supporters of the Constitutions basic principals of pluralism in Indonesian society. This is why they had a staunch following among the ethnic and religious minorities in the city; these minorities had expressed grave concern on the eve of the vote for the possible victory of the other candidate, Adang Daradjatun a former chief of police supported by the Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) who yesterday won 44.9% of the vote .
