Early exit polls in Indonesia’s presidential election show the Governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo with a slight lead in the race.
He’s long been the favourite to win the two man contest, though his once substantial lead has all but disappeared in recent days, with recent opinion polls showing him running neck and neck with former special forces general Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo has run an effective campaign, promising strong government and protectionist policies for the financial and farming sectors.
But he’s been dogged by allegations of human rights abuses during his time in the military.
He was discharged from the Indonesian army for ordering troops to arrest activists, though he was never investigated on any criminal charges and denies any wrongdoing.
Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will hand over power to another directly elected president, the first time this has happened in Indonesia’s history.
Observers say the election has been one of the dirtiest since the return of democracy in 1998, with Widodo forced to deny allegations of Chinese ancestry during the race.
But turnout has been high, with
some 80 per cent of the country’s 190 million voters taking part in the election.