Indonesian Presidential Election a Watershed Vote

Indonesian Presidential Election a Watershed Vote

DENPASAR, Indonesia -- As the roughly 171 million Indonesians eligible to vote get ready to elect their new president, their choice is likely to steer the future trajectory of Indonesia well beyond the next five years.

This election is likely to be the last dominated by figures who played a role in the New Order regime, as former dictator Suharto's tenure from 1965 to 1998 was called.

Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, 59, heavily favored to gain re-election, will not be allowed to run for a third term should predictions of his victory prove correct. Besides Yudhoyono, only vice-presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, 58, may have another chance to run for president in 2014. For the other candidates running, this year's election represents their last ride.

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