Year one of the Yudhoyono–Kalla duumvirate

Abstract

In the first year of their government, the joint leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla is reminiscent of Indonesia's first presidential and vice presidential team, the duumvirate or dwitunggal of President Sukarno and Vice President Mohammad Hatta. Though not without its weaknesses, the Yudhoyono–Kalla duumvirate is more likely to be successful than its predecessor, whose dissolution led to the overthrow of parliamentary democracy in the late 1950s. The problems that Indonesia faces today are more manageable; today's leaders are also more compatible in policy goals and understanding of politics. Progress to date is most notable in the organisation of the government's political power base, the policy response to the tsunami, the forging of the Aceh peace agreement, and action against corrupt officials, while economic policy making has been less successful.

I would like to thank Mohamad Ihsan Alief for able research assistance and Kuskridho Ambardi, Ed Aspinall, Tobias Basuki, Harold Crouch, Greg Fealy, Nico Harjanto and Salim Said for their valuable comments.

Notes

1. Both the Indonesian government and GAM were under increased pressure at home and from international agencies to provide greater security for their aid missions.