Joko Widodo sworn in as Indonesia's seventh president; reaches out to opposition and common people in inaugural speech

From an Aussie newspaper, 20 Oct 2014,


Indonesia's seventh president since independence, Joko Widodo, has been sworn in at a ceremony in Jakarta, ending a decade of rule by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The swearing-in ceremony at Indonesia's national parliament is the first time in the country's history that a directly elected president handed power to another.

Mr Widodo, 53 and widely known as Jokowi, used his first speech to push for political unity and for the whole country to work through the country's challenges.

"To all the fishermen, to all the farmers, to all the meat ball vendors, to the driver, to the teacher, to the police, to the businessman and to all the professional community, I ask for all of you to work hard, work hard together," he said.

"This is a time where we have to overcome the next challenge, which is to build Indonesia to become a country that has political independence, economic independence and rich in culture.
Indonesia's new president

Joko Widodo is a reform-minded technocrat who will need to make tough decisions, analysts say.

"Unity and working hard is something that is very important for us and we will never be able to become one if we keep being divided.

"The cabinet that I lead will ensure that everyone in the world will feel the service of this government.

"And I invite and ask everyone to work hard and follow their responsibility."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who attended the ceremony, praised Mr Widodo as a charismatic and inspirational figure.

Mr Abbott said he was encouraged by what Mr Widodo has said about Australia.

"I think there's a wave of confidence and renewal sweeping Indonesia right now and I'm looking forward to Australia's opportunities to take part in the renewal and the reinvigoration of this important neighbour and partner," he said.

But the Lowy Institute's Aaron Connelly said while Mr Widodo had a substantial mandate from the people, there would be difficulties in ensuring his unity message filtered to the top.

"Jokowi is the messenger of hope and change and he's brought a lot of hope to the country," he said.

"But he has said he is going to change the way politics is done in Jakarta.

"The legislature doesn't like this because they are comfortable with the way politics is done in Jakarta and pushed back hard over the last few weeks in an attempt to dismantle the infrastructure Jokowi might have used to implement the policies.

"That be already the next big battle for Jokowi."
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Tony Abbott honours the tradition of attending the Indonesian presidential inauguration. But diplomatic success will depend on more than chemistry, writes Ross Tapsell.

After weeks of gridlock, Mr Widodo sought to improve ties when he met last week with opposition leader Prabowo Subianto and prominent opposition member Aburizal Bakrie, who congratulated him and pledged to support his government - though reserving the right to criticise when necessary.

Mr Widodo thanked Mr Prabowo during his inaugural speech as president, calling him "my friend", met with applause.

Political analyst Kevin O'Rourke recently wrote in a research note that in reaching out to Mr Prabowo "[Mr] Widodo's initiative suggests that the former Jakarta governor is becoming adept at navigating in national politics".

The new president, whose initial term is for five years, faces huge challenges to boost sagging growth, cut an unsettlingly large current account deficit that is weighing on the currency, and meet pledges to improve the circumstances of Indonesia's 240 million people.

Supporters of the new Indonesian president are planning a street parade and concert to celebrate his swearing-in.

During his campaign, he was mobbed by supporters who gathered in the tens of thousands at mass rallies.

Those thousands of supporters of the man who has been painted as the answer to some of Indonesia's major problems, like corruption, plan to march to the national monument for a street-style party.

But Jokowi himself has serious business to attend to in the coming days, needing to appoint a cabinet and get to work negotiating his policies through a hung parliament.



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