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Kalla Says Election Loss Is ‘Not the End’
July 28, 2009

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Makassar. Vice President Jusuf Kalla, speaking before a crowd of supporters upon his return to his hometown of Makassar in South Sulawesi on Tuesday, said his loss in the presidential election did not necessarily mean the end of his career.

“It’s not the end of everything. It’s a learning process for everybody,” Kalla said. He made his comments during an event at his private residence, which supporters had given the hyperbolic title “JK, Hero of Democracy, Returns Home.”

Kalla expressed gratitude to the crowd and to supporters of his presidential bid. He and his running mate, Wiranto, from the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura), won a distant third place in the three-horse race.

“Service to the nation is not limited to being president or vice president. There are still many things that can be done,” he said.

He also informed the crowd that he and Wiranto had lodged complaints with the Constitutional Court over the election results.

“It’s not a matter of winning or losing. This nation must progress properly, honestly and democratically, because the democratic process must be implemented correctly and fairly,” Kalla said.

According to the vice president, the essence of democracy boiled down to the phrase “from the people, by the people and for the people.” The quote is an apparent paraphrase from a famous speech by US President Abraham Lincoln, though he did not cite the author.

“People’s votes should not disappear or appear just like that. Therefore, we have reported the problem to the Constitutional Court so that democracy and peace will be upheld in the future,” he said.

“Thank you for your support in the presidential election, although nationally I failed [to win enough votes], in South Sulawesi, we are still united,” he said.

Kalla, the Golkar Party chairman, garnered the highest number of votes in South Sulawesi and in the Golkar stronghold of Gorontalo in the island’s north.

Many observers say Kalla is likely to stand aside as Golkar chairman following the party’s poor showing in the legislative elections. During Tuesday’s event, Kalla was accompanied by his wife, Mufidah Kalla, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Makassar Mayor Ilhan Arief Sirajuddin.

Antara