Big challenges ahead for Indonesia’s Jokowi

Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s first leader without deep roots in the era of dictator Suharto, will be sworn in as president Monday. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, are set to attend the inauguration. Analysts say the euphoria is likely to be short-lived, as Widodo, known by his nickname Jokowi, faces up to the task of leading the world’s fourth most populous country. Growth in Southeast Asia’s top economy is at five-year lows, corruption remains rampant, and fears are mounting that support for the Islamic State (ISIS) group could grow in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Jokowi has set out an ambitious reform agenda to tackle the country’s many problems, but there is concern the notoriously fractious parliament could prove a hindrance.

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