Indonesian elections tomorrow; Yudhoyono expected to gain 2nd term

Indonesians are going to the polls tomorrow to elect their new president. Three familiar faces are vying for the top spot: incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (Democratic Party); his vice president, Yusuf Kalla (an entrepreneur and close to Yudhoyono); and former President Megawati Sukarnoputri (Democratic Party of Struggle).

This is just the second direct presidential elections for Indonesia, a few years after Indonesian strongman Suharto fell from power in 1998. Incumbent president Yudhoyono, a former military general, enjoys extreme popularity. Analysts see him winning again over Kalla and Sukarnoputri.

Yudhoyono defeated Megawarti in 2004 after a string of graft and corruption charges. Megawarti has since made a re-appearance in Indonesian politics; yet, has failed repeatedly to reconsolidate her mass bases.

Let's toast this one for Yudhoyono. I'll brew a very special barako coffee tomorrow. Exciting and interesting to watch how Indonesians would do this.