Jakarta
Indonesia’s former security minister beat incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri in a landslide this week. Preliminary results showed that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who based his campaign on a promise to end corruption and economic malaise, got more than 60 percent of the approximately 120 million votes cast. “I thank God and all the people that have trusted me,” Yudhoyono said, “and I thank Megawati for bringing this democratic process.” Once the vote is officially confirmed, it will be the first time the world’s most populous Muslim country has changed leaders in successive democratic elections. Yudhoyono is a moderate Muslim who received his military training in the U.S.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with TrumpTalking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warningsIn Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
