Prabowo congratulates SBY-Boediono

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Prabowo Subianto, the running mate of Megawati Soekarnoputri in the presidential race on July 8, expressed congratulations to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono on Tuesday following their confirmation as president- and vice president-elects.

"I will send my congratulation by mail to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono this evening," he said at a press conference following their confirmation as president-and vice president-elects by the General Election Commission (KPU).

He said Gerindra Party would also pray for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono so that they would always be given strength to implement their mandate as president and vice president later.

Prabowo, who is also the chief patron of the party, said the congratulation was a form of Gerindra`s commitment to democratic processes in the recent legislative and presidential elections and their results.

"We remain consistent to develop civil democracy by accepting the results of the legislative as well as presidential elections and the decision of the constitutional court on disputes over the results of the elections," he said.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Boediono won 60.80 percent of the votes in the presidential race on July 8, leaving Megawati and her running mate Prabowo in the second place with 26.79 percent of votes and incumbent vice president Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto 12.41 percent of votes.

Megawati and Kalla had challenged the results of the vote counting but the constitutional court recently issued a ruling confirming their validity.

Inauguration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono as president and vice president is scheduled on October 20, 2009.(*)