Two strong men in Jakarta

Two strong men in Jakarta

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla's election as chairman
of the Golkar party introduces an element of drama into the
country's political scene in the early days of the President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration. Golkar -- Indonesia's
largest political party, which has 23 percent of the seats in
Parliament -- has gone from being the main opposition force to a
main supporter of the government.

The truth is that these are early days for both men. While the
political dynamics of parliamentary seats may give Kalla the
ability to challenge Susilo in the next presidential election,
what is important now is that the Vice-President's victory in
Golkar lays the ground for an aligning of the executive and the
legislature.

This development is good for Indonesia because it should help
the new administration push through economic and other reforms.
Then, for all the influence that Kalla will have, Indonesia
remains a presidential system.

There are enough national challenges to keep the two powerful
men in Jakarta busy. What happens in five years' time is five
years away.

-- The Straits Times, Singapore