Yudhoyono Becomes Indonesia’s Sixth President

Yudhoyono took the oath, cementing his victory in the country’s first ever direct presidential polls, at a heavily guarded ceremony in the capital attended by regional leaders including Australian Prime Minister John Howard, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"In the name of Allah I swear I will meet my obligations as president of the republic of Indonesia as fully and as justly as possible," he said as an Islamic official held a copy of the Nobel Qur’an over his head.

Yudhoyono replaces Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesia’s founding president Sukarno, whom he beat in a landslide victory in September 20 elections.

Security was tight for the ceremony, also attended by the prime ministers of East Timor, Malaysia and Singapore and the Sultan of Brunei, with police warning of possible attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.

Wednesday’s ceremony, which takes place in the same building that students occupied in 1998, heralding the downfall of dictator Suharto, is seen as a milestone in Indonesia’s remarkable emergence as a democracy.

Conspicuous Absence

Megawati was notably absent from the ceremony, a gesture seen as a final snub by the former leader who has failed to concede her election defeat or congratulate the new president.

Though credited with overseeing Indonesia’s successful election year and restoring economic stability, Megawati’s popularity waned as she developed an image as a distant leader who lacked the drive to revive the financial sector.

Reports said she chose to tend to her garden Wednesday rather than attend the inauguration ceremony.

Metro TV said Megawati spent the morning among the vegetation at her official residence in an upmarket Jakarta suburb.

High Hopes

Yudhoyono takes office amid optimism he will fulfill pledges to fix the country’s economy and tackle the endemic corruption that has scared away vital foreign cash.

Hidayat Nur Wahid, chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly which includes both houses of parliament, urged Yudhoyono to fulfill his promises of raising Indonesia from the problems which continue to blight the country.

"You have won the hearts and the mandate of a majority of the Indonesian people. This shows they put high hopes on both your shoulders to lead them to a better and more meaningful life in the next five years," he said.

Observers and political analysts believe Yudhoyono is facing a tough job ahead with five major issues awaiting his swift touch; human rights, corruption, security and terror issues, education and economic development.

Yudhoyono is expected to unveil his cabinet later Wednesday after spending days interviewing prospective candidates to meet his promises of assembling a body chosen for its professional skills rather than political allegiances.

Fears that he has given in to backers, who oppose pro-International Monetary Fund policies, left Indonesian markets down ahead of the announcement after weeks of record stock prices in anticipation of better economic times ahead.

Potential cabinet member Drajad Wibowo told journalists before the swearing in that Yudhoyono was expected to unveil a cabinet which would balance opinions to appease those who believe IMF policies are to blame for Indonesia’s malaise.

"I think that what Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and (his deputy) Yusuf Kalla will do is some sort of balancing act between those two camps," Wibowo said.