The residents of Bali Province have learned the name of their “new old” governor. After counting 90% of the ballots, it was revealed to be Wayan Koster, a figure well-known to many expats. Koster himself was the first to announce his victory.
The day after the election, Koster informed journalists that he had received 61.44% of the vote. These figures came from his team’s internal calculations of actual votes. According to the same data, Koster’s opponent, candidate number 1 on the ballot, Made Muliavan Arya-Putu Agus, received only 38.56% of the votes. Koster emphasized that these are not exit poll results but actual vote counts.
“Based on this real data, candidate pair number 02, Koster-Giri, received 1,267,001 votes, or about 61.44%. Candidate pair number 01 (Mulia-Pas) received 795,018 votes, or about 38.56%,” said Koster. He added that only one district, Buleleng, had completed its tally.
“In Tabanan, Denpasar, and Jembrana, 90% of votes have been counted, while in Ada, 81%; Klungkung, 70%; and Gianyar, 68.5%,” Koster stated.
Koster’s opponent, Made Muliavan Arya, also known as De Gajah, has already conceded defeat. He accepted the preliminary results and congratulated his competitors on their victory.
De Gajah acknowledged the significant lead of the Koster-Giri pair and admitted he had anticipated this outcome. He attributed his loss to the strong support Koster received from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
“As of now, not all ballots have been counted, but from the 80% that have, we see a large advantage for Koster. Catching up is likely very difficult—probably impossible,” De Gajah said.
The losing candidate expressed hope that if the Koster-Giri pair succeeded, they would fulfill the promises made during their campaign.
“We have a lot to learn, and of course, whatever program they have, if it’s for the benefit of the people, we will support it. But if it is not people-oriented, we will be a strong opposition,” he said.
One of the first potential points of contention could be the project for a new airport in North Bali. During Koster’s previous term, the grand construction plan was shelved due to opposition from PDI-P leader Megawati Sukarnoputri.
“I don’t know about the North Bali Airport. I’m not sure it will be built now,” said De Gajah. During his campaign, De Gajah had promised to build the North Bali Airport. He even once stated that constructing the new airport in Buleleng was a commitment made by President Prabowo Subianto.
Koster, for now, prefers not to discuss policy matters and has limited his comments to responding to congratulations from his opponent. “I thank my good friend Made Muliavan Arya (De Gajah), as we have always been good friends and maintained contact with each other. Let’s preserve Bali together and ensure it remains favorable for our mutual progress,” Koster said.
He also invited supporters of both candidate pairs to work together on Bali’s development post-Covid-19, as the island’s tourism and economy continue their recovery.
“We would like to thank the police and all law enforcement agencies who performed their duties well. From the very beginning, the elections proceeded smoothly and peacefully. There were no incidents or provocations,” said Koster.
It’s hard to say for certain. It’s possible that the demand from locals for stricter compliance with local rules by foreigners could give Koster an opportunity to win broader trust among Balinese residents from the very beginning of his new term.
On the other hand, Wayan Koster is known for his strong rhetoric against foreigners. However, during his previous term as governor, few actual measures were implemented. For example, his talks of banning motorbike rentals for island guests were alarming but, thankfully, did not lead to any concrete action. Activist Niluh Djelantik, known for her firm stance against foreign behavior, even criticized him for not following through.
The elected governor of Bali is scheduled to officially take office on December 16.
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