Doubts about Megawati

Doubts about Megawati

Megawati Soekarnoputri took over the Indonesian presidency on July 23 with a clear mandate from the People's Consultative Assembly, which by a 591-0 vote ousted Abdurrahman Wahid on charges of general incompetence and corruption. The expectation was that she swiftly would move ahead with political reforms and economic policies to which Mr. Wahid paid lip service but never seriously pursued. With the economy still going nowhere and criticism over a lack of leadership mounting, it would appear that Ms. Megawati's honeymoon is drawing to a close.

Cleaning up the financial mess is the most urgent priority. During her first month in office, Ms. Megawati deservedly reaped high praise for the "dream team" of economic advisers she selected for the cabinet. Picked predominately for technocratic skill rather than political allegiance, the appointments sent a message that the old Soeharto ways of cronyism were finally going to change in Jakarta. The new government was putting people in place who would pursue sound economic policies ahead of their own personal interest. The International Monetary Fund responded by resuming aid.

Unfortunately the dream team hasn't done much to relieve Indonesia's economic problems.

In the four months since Megawati Soekarnoputri assumed office, she has frequently referred to the legacy of her father Sukarno, the nation's founding father. That familial connection with the past still guarantees Ms. Megawati a large measure of popular support should she decide to undertake reforms that will keep Indonesia together and move it forward. Some time soon, however, she will have to start turning that latent potential into reality.

-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong