President Yudhoyono Sworn In

"In the name of Allah, I swear that I will perform the duties of the president of the Republic of Indonesia to the best of my ability and as justly as possible," said Yudhoyono.

The swearing-in ceremony that took place amid high security in the centre of Jakarta was broadcast live around the Indonesian archipelago.

The leaders of Australia, Brunei, East Timor, Malaysia and Singapore all attended, as did senior officials from the whole world.

In 2004, Yudhoyono became the first directly-elected president of Indonesia since the 1998 fall of the dictator Suharto.

A popular politician

In July’s presidential elections, he won over 60 percent of the votes and secured a second term. His Democratic Party had also become the strongest party in April’s parliamentary elections.

The 60-year-old president, who writes songs in his spare time, is popular across Indonesia thanks largely to his anti-corruption campaign and economic reforms.

Indonesia is one of the few countries to have withstood the global financial crisis relatively unscathed. Indonesian shares have risen significantly and the value of the rupiah has risen by 18 percent against the US dollar, becoming one of the strongest currencies in Asia. The government has predicted growth of over 4 percent this year.

“We have had good results building up the country and fighting corruption,” Yudhoyono said on Tuesday. “But a lot still needs to be done. We have reduced the number of poor in the country but we have to work further for people’s welfare. I am sure that the results of our work until now will bring new challenges.“

Promises to boost economic growth

Yudhoyono has received support from economists for his decision to appoint former central bank chief Boediono as his vice president.

The president also plans to set up a new reform unit to push through important infrastructure projects, accelerate reform of the overstaffed civil service and improve coordination between various ministries.

Internationally, Yudhoyono wants Indonesia to have more influence as part of the Group of 20 for example, as well as in global negotiations on climate change.

High expectations

People on the streets of Indonesia are generally optimistic about the new government: "I hope that the problems of the Indonesian people will be solved -- the global economic problems, poverty and also terrorism. I hope everything will be better and that the government will be in a position to solve the problems,” said one passerby.

Another had “high expectations of the president, as an Indonesian citizen. He has to put together a cabinet of experts as well as party representatives so that the country’s economic situation can be improved.“

Yudhoyono is due to announce his new cabinet in the next few days. His Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is expected to keep her post.

Author: Bernd Musch-Borowska/Anne Thomas
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein