the day after the eighth

1. After what happened yesterday, it means that Mega has lost three times in presidential elections: ‘99 (at the People’s Consultative Assembly meeting), ‘04, ‘09. Admittedly, what happened in 1999 was cruel to her, when Amien Rais and his Poros Tengah somehow could propel Gus Dur to become the president, since she and the PDIP was the winner of ‘99 election. In some way, she was vindicated when the same Assembly brought Gus Dur down in 2001. Indeed, it was pretty fascinating how she kept nominating herself as a presidential candidate. If in 1963 the People’s Consultative Assembly declared his father to be President for Life, perhaps she could be said as a Presidential Candidate for Life. I will be very, very happy to be proven wrong in 2014. (i.e., that she won’t seek another candidacy)

2. A gentle reminder on our nation’s history would tell how much we have moved on from the debacle of 1998. In the span of six years (1998-2004), we had five presidents (Soeharto, Habibie, Gus Dur, Mega, SBY). And now we are going to have our first multiple-term president after Soeharto.

3. A glance at the reaction of losing candidates would reveal who could accept it gracefully and who could only whine and whine. Worryingly, the latter might seek another candidacy in 2014. I do hope all of us will remember who they are. I understand well that history remembers those who win, and that’s why we need to listen more to the voice of those who lose. Nevertheless, sometimes the losing party didn’t help their case either.

4. After Bush won the election in 2004 to proceed for his second term in the office, perhaps the only positive thing that the (US) Democrats could say to console themselves was, “Well, at least he won’t be eligible for 2008 election.” Perhaps Mega-Pro and JK-Win supporters can follow the same line: At least SBY won’t be eligible for 2014 presidential election. Indeed, it would be for the first time that an Indonesian president know that he will run his last term on the office.

5. If you could retain only one minister from previous cabinet, who will s/he be? I would go for Sri Mulyani.

6. Official national tabulation can be seen at the KPU’s website. So far, Mega won in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, JK won in West Sulawesi, South East Sulawesi, and Gorontalo. You can click through the province name to get the results for each regency in the province, and through the regency name to get the results for each subdistrict in the regency. For example, in Kelapa Gading subdistrict the numbers are 19%-74%-7%, or in Klaten regency they are 41%-52%-7%.