Indonesia preps for second direct presidential ballot

[Coventina]

Source: CNN

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesians head to the polls on Wednesday to elect their next president and vice president -- only the second time such a vote has occurred in the young democracy's history.

Three familiar faces are vying for the top spot: incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono; his vice president, Yusuf Kalla; and former President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Analysts and polls have Yudhoyono -- riding high on the country's economic strength -- widely expected to win a second five-year term.

"He has positive global image; relations with the American government have been the best in all the time that I have been here, the last 30 years," said James Castle, who analyzes Indonesian politics and economy.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/07/indonesia.elections/