SMC Predicts Prabowo-Hatta Pair to Win 60 Percent Votes

Jakarta (Antara) - The Sabang Marauke-Circle (SMC) research institute has predicted that the Prabowo-Hatta pair will win 60 percent of the votes in the upcoming July 9 presidential elections. "This prediction is based on the concrete work of volunteers and political parties supporting the Red-and-White coalition which nominates the Prabowo-Hatta duo. They have received a positive response from the people," Chairman of the Board of Directors of SMC Syahganda Nainggolan said here on Saturday. The General Elections Commission (KPU) has recorded the number of voters at 189 million. The Prabowo-Hatta ticket increasingly obtained support from various people and nation's components, Syahganda said. The appreciation given to the Prabowo-Hatta presidential and vice presidential hopefuls showcased the big reception of the people toward the pair to lead the nation in the 2014-2019 term of office, he added. The pair has the leadership quality and ability to solve the national problems, he said. "There is the conviction that Prabowo is firm, oriented with the people's interests will be able to lead the nation well, and improve the people's standard of life," he added. Hatta Rajasa is an experienced vice presidential candidate who has worked in government. His capability could not be doubted and will complement the national leadership duet. Currently, there are two presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs, Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla and Prabowo-Hatta Rajasa, who will contest the July 9 presidential election. The Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo is supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the National Democrat Party (NasDem), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) with 207 seats or 36.96 percent of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s 560 seats. The Prabowo-Hatta duo is supported by the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party, the Prosperous Justice Party, the United Development Party (PPP), and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) with 292 seats or 52.14 percent in the parliament. (*)