Indonesia’s former general and losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto may want to challenge the game-changing election results, but analysts are cynical that he can prevail, for the second time, against winning candidate Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo. He is being hailed as the poster-boy president, having won with 53.15 per cent of the votes. He has a clean image and a hard-working background, with no leanings towards Indonesia’s political or military elites — necessary stipulations in the past.
The military will be uncomfortable with the mandate of the people. Widodo will have his task cut out to align all governmental bodies into one allied functioning unit. The fact that he was a complete political novice until nine years ago — before serving as a small-time mayor and then a governor — is a shortcoming, but he should make up for it with a freshness of purpose and an ethical approach when he takes office in October.
Indonesians have grown weary with the power-brokers who held sway since 1988, when Suharto had exerted a vice-like grip. Widodo, by contrast, has a smaller profile, but he has endeared himself with the reputation of getting things done. Decisions to restructure the country’s infrastructure, ease out regulations, hold ministers and bureaucrats accountable will be the first steps in his agenda. He will also have to draw out a realistic blueprint for his country as it strives to stamp its authority across the region. To do this, Widodo will have to work on five essential templates: Pick a strong cabinet with colleagues who share his values and work ethics, especially given that there is a coalition involved. He will have to cut the fuel subsidy bill, which is 13 per cent of the budget and has touched $21 billion (Dh77.23 billion). He will need to improve the investment climate and restore Indonesia’s reputation as one of Asia’s most preferred business destinations. He ought to manage interactions within his own party to prove that he is his own boss and not a stooge. And last, but not the least, Widodo must ingratiate himself to the House of Representatives where the cut and thrust of daily politics is played out.
