Last Tuesday's electoral outcome of the Indonesian presidential elections as announced by the country's General Elections Commission (KPU) has catapulted Joko Widodo, the reform-minded governor of Jakarta, to the top job of the world's third largest democracy and the most populous Muslim state. He has been declared elected as Indonesia's seventh president. It has been a bitterly fought and a widely participatory election with nearly 71 per cent of the country's total voters exercising their franchise.
This will be for the first time that Indonesia - the fastest growing economy among the member-countries of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) - will have a leader from outside its otherwise well-knit elite, capping a meteoric rise for the 53-year-old furniture salesman-turned-mayor. His vice-president will be Jusuf Kalla, a businessman and a former vice-president under the administration of outgoing president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and he is known "to enjoy the cut and throat of dealmaking" in Indonesia's interlinked world of politics and business.
Meanwhile, defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, a former general and member of the wealthy elite, has announced that he would file an appeal in Indonesia's Constitutional court, protesting the "fraudulent election process". However, the latest election, according to political analysts in the region and outside, was the best-run presidential contest that Indonesia has ever held. People at large believe that Mr. Subianto's legal challenge is unlikely to succeed. All concerned expect that Indonesia will now witness an "exemplary democratic transition". Support for democracy in Indonesia remains exceptionally strong. Asian Barometer, a research organisation, had earlier found that 76 per cent of Indonesians thought elections offered a real choice.
Indonesia is widely expected to continue its march, upon assumption of office by Mr. Widodo, towards faster economic development. He has been swept into the top job on a wave of optimism. As the popular governor of Jakarta, he has strong support among the poor for his perceived honesty and status as a "man of the people". The president-elect has already stated that he would try to recruit ministers with the right background, character and skills, without resorting to political horse-trading (or "crow-trading" in Indonesia). This augurs well for the incoming administration and Indonesians. Investors will now be watching closely how Mr. Widodo forms his cabinet.
The country's economy, the 10th largest in the world based on purchasing power parity (PPP), has shown quite significant growth of 4.0 to 6.5 per cent in the past decade under President Yudhoyono. It was seemingly resistant to global economic shocks. But then again, about half of its population of more than 240 million still lives on less than US$2.0 a day. This presents the most fundamental challenge for its leaders. Indonesia must now go for much-needed reforms to bolster its economy, the largest one in Southeast Asia.
As a friendly Muslim country, Bangladesh would like to see Indonesia move steadily ahead, making speedy economic strides in a state of peace and stability under its new leadership. Its new leader is expected to take over the reins of administration from Yudhoyono government in October. Mr. Jokowi had earlier succeeded in overcoming his opponents by directly reaching out to the public. The common Indonesians, too, are sure to support the new leader as long as they see him to be acting in the best interests of their country.
Indonesia gets an \\\'out-of-box\\\' leader
FE Team | Published: July 25, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like