Joko Widodo: From promising democrat to Indonesia's kingmaker - BBC News

Critics say Joko Widodo, like the leaders before him, is turning politics into a family business.

15 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mr Widodo's approval ratings remain high even as Indonesia's democracy index has fallenBy Kelly NgBBC NewsMany had said it was Joko Widodo's "man of the people" image that helped score his first presidential victory in July 2014.

The former furniture salesman was Indonesia's first leader from outside the political and military elite. His decisive win was propelled by people's frustrations with corruption and nepotism in the country's young democracy, which is also the world's third largest.

When he was first became president, Time magazine hailed him as "the new face of Indonesian democracy".

He's now 62 and his decade in power has seen Indonesia's GDP grow by a cumulative 43%, with the country also seeing a boost in infrastructure.

And even as he is about to step down at the end of his second and final term he remains hugely popular, enjoying consistently high approval ratings of more than 70% - turning from a once fresh-faced figure to a powerful kingmaker.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28422179?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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