Joko Widodo was elected as Indonesia's president in July 2014, in a win that marked a sea change in the country's politics.
Also
known as Jokowi, Mr Widodo - a former entrepreneur and governor of
Jakarta - comes from a humble background and stood in sharp contrast to
the country's previous prime ministers who hailed from the political and
military elite.
He was elected on a wave of support, particularly
from the youth, for his promise of change and reputation as a clean
politician. Though he remains popular, criticism of his administration
has mounted following recent policy stumbles and slower economic growth.
Born in 1961 in Solo, a city in the centre of Java, Mr Widodo is the son of a wood-seller.
The
furniture-maker began his political career with the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) when he was elected mayor of Solo in
2005.
Mr Widodo then went on to run for the position of Jakarta's governor, winning a resounding victory in 2012.
He
was seen to empathise with the poor and grew in popularity with
measures such as relocating slum-dwellers and boosting small businesses.
He
campaigned for the presidency on a platform of stamping out corruption,
nepotism and intolerance - and pushed for investment in education,
meritocracy and increased use of technology in governance.
He won the presidential election with a decisive victory over former general Prabowo Subianto.
At
Mr Widodo's inauguration in October 2014, he urged for a spirit of
unity and hard work, and promised to restore national pride as well as
build a stronger maritime presence.
But critics warned that he lacked experience in national politics and international relations.
Shaky first year
Mr Widodo's administration has had a shaky start, with critics saying
it has been marked by muddled policymaking, questionable political
appointments, and lack of leadership.
His government rushed into
some policies, such as banning the sale of alcohol in small shops and
mandating Indonesian proficiency among foreign workers, only to
backtrack on them later due to their unpopularity or unfeasibility.
Economic
growth has continued to slow, and while Mr Widodo has blamed it on the
global slowdown, some say that his economic team are also to blame. He
has since reshuffled his cabinet.
He has however pushed for long
overdue reform, such as a cut in fuel subsidies, initiated more
infrastructure projects to improve transportation, and launched a
stimulus package.
Mr Widodo met with his first international controversy in April 2015
when he faced global pressure to pardon two Australian members of the
Bali Nine drug smuggling ring from the death sentence. But Mr Widodo
refused, saying a hardline stance against drugs was necessary to protect
Indonesia.
At home, his proposal to appoint Budi Gunawan, a
former suspect in a corruption probe, as the chief of police was met
with widespread outrage. He later backed down and made Mr Gunawan deputy
chief.
Despite such controversies, he remains popular with
ordinary Indonesians hoping to see more from the man whom they have
pinned their hopes on for a better Indonesia.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28422179
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