Indonesia's prospects: a new leader begins in key Asian democracy

Indonesia on Monday inaugurated a new president, Joko Widodo, who has a humble background and, significantly for a country still building democracy, succeeds another civilian elected president.

Joko, 53, was elected July 9, defeating a retired special forces general, Prabowo Subianto. That was a significant development in Indonesia, the world's fourth most-populated nation at 250 million. Its political past since independence in 1945 includes 53 years of military dictators, Sukarno and Suharto, followed by democracy in 1999.

The new president brings useful experience to office, having been governor of Jakarta, the region that includes the capital. At the same time, his party and its allies control only 47 percent of the seats in the parliament, which will present a challenge.

Indonesia has prospered through its exports of coal, gas, oil and timber to China. At the same time, its problems include a high level of corruption, poverty and a formidable gap between its rich and poor, stressed infrastructure and a policy of popular but economically ruinous energy subsidies. Joko will bring a strong mandate and considerable skill to tackling these issues.

The rest of the world should applaud Indonesia, with an 87 percent Muslim population and a history of military rule, for installing in office for the next five years a civilian and for avoiding, for the most part, major violence by Islamist extremists.

Indonesia could be a very useful friend for the United States in Asia. Alternatively, trouble there could pose a serious regional problem. President Barack Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia and he is popular there. He should not be shy about building on that tie to this important nation.

This article was published and distributed by MCT Information Services.