Indonesian President Joko Widodo heads into his second term with a stronger mandate to tackle the significant risks facing Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
Jokowi, as the president is known, won the 17 April presidential race with 55.5 per cent of votes, official results released showed. His margin of victory over his opponent Prabowo Subianto almost doubled from 2014, while parties in his coalition are set for a majority in the lower house of parliament. Prabowo has not conceded yet and his supporters are planning protests, prompting authorities to lock down parts of the capital. Calm returned to streets of Indonesia’s capital on Thursday after protesters clashed with police for two days in a row, in the worst violence to grip the city since the downfall of the dictator Suharto in 1998. At least seven rioters were killed during the violence, which was unleashed by about 300 “perpetrators,” National Police spokesman told reporters.
The president must now deliver on a reform agenda that includes plans for record spending on new infrastructure over the next five years. He will also need to attract foreign investment and navigate a worsening global trade environment, which is weighing on growth.