Indonesian Finance Minister Chatib Basri said on Monday that he forecast the country's economy to grow faster in the second quarter as the general election has pushed spending.

The minister foresaw the growth at 5.3 percent in the three months ending in June, compared to 5.21 percent of the previous quarter.

"Hopefully, 5.3 percent could be achieved," he said at the State Palace.

"The contributors were more and less similar with those at the first quarter, but it (Q2) is better because of the roles of the election," said Chatib.

The Southeast Asia's largest economy held the direct legislative polls on April 9, followed by the direct presidential election on July 9.

The government and the parliament have estimated the economy to expand at 5.5 percent for the whole year, as against 5.8 percent last year, with the central bank being determined to implement a tight monetary policy to counter the risk of the global economic turmoil. Endi

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