Jokowi was a furniture exporter and former mayor of a small city called Solo in Central Java before he became the Jakarta governor by winning an election.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will soon have a new leader Joko Widodo, former Jakarta governor, popularly called Jokowi.

He won the presidential election on July 9 with former vice-president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate. Jokowi will be inaugurated as the countrys seventh president on October 20.

Jokowi was a furniture exporter and former mayor of a small city called Solo in Central Java before he became the Jakarta governor by winning an election. He defeated former military figure Prabowo Subianto, who had paired with former chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa, in the presidential election.

Jokowi has attracted major public attention and has become the medias darling for reaching out to the people and taking interest in their problems. According to some, his modest appearance also gives an impression of "someone like us".

Jokowi will replace President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who has been leading the country for ten years.

Chairman of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan said here on Wednesday evening that preparations for Jokowis inauguration were almost complete.

He also assured that the event will be smooth.

"We hope the people will remain calm and be assured that everything will go well and peacefully despite several contradicting political comments," he had remarked earlier.

Zulkifli elaborated that the MPR and the General Election Commission (KPU) had put all preparations in place to assure the people that the inauguration will be smooth and peaceful.

"Yesterday, we had a meeting with the KPU, and this afternoon, we will meet with Aburizal Bakrie, Prabowo, and Amien Rais to seek their support for a smooth inauguration function," he had revealed last Friday (Oct 10).

Aburizal Bakrie is the general chairman of the Golkar Party while Prabowo Subianto is a former presidential candidate and current general chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party. Amien Rais is the chairman of the advisory board of the National Mandate Party (PAN) that Zulkifli belongs to.

Rumors that the inauguration will be sabotaged had emerged after the Red-White coalition, which supported Prabowos presidential bid, had won the leadership of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the MPR. The Great Indonesia coalition led by the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) to which Jokowi belongs could not secure a single leadership role in either institution.

Zulkifli has stated that this presidential inauguration will offer Indonesia an opportunity to show the world how well democracy is practised in the country.

The Red-White coalition consists of Golkar Party (the runner-up of the legislative elections on April 9), Gerindra, the United Development Party (PPP), the Prosperous Justice Party and the PAN.

The Great Indonesia coalition comprises the PDIP (the winner of the legislative elections), the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the Nation Awakening Party and the Peoples Conscience Party.

The ruling Democrat Party led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono joined the Red-White coalition during the election of the MPR and DPR leaderships.

However, in the MPR leadership election, the PPP switched sides to join the Great Indonesia coalition.

Several party leaders, including Aburizal Bakrie and Hatta Rajasa, who is also the general chairman of the PAN, have already confirmed their attendance at the inauguration ceremony.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is the general chairman of the ruling Democrat Party has also pledged to attend the event.

He has even promised to reach early to welcome the heads of state/government, including those from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Timor Leste and Australia, who will be present at the ceremony.

Volunteers, who supported Jokowis presidential bid, have planned a special celebration party at the National Monument Square (Monas) to welcome the new president on October 20.

A performance by music band, Slank, which had helped garner votes for Jokowi during his final election campaign, will be the highlight of the party.

After the inauguration at the parliament building, Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla will be escorted in a cart by the volunteers from Hotel Indonesia to the Presidential Palace. The two leaders will then reach Monas to join in the celebration party expected to be attended by thousands of people.

Around 30 thousand volunteers from Geruduk (Gerakan Oktober 20 or October 20 Movement) are ready to join the parade, its coordinator Panel Barus said here on Thursday.

The Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) of North Sumatra, meanwhile, have planned a special Watch TV Together program at the PDIP regional headquarters, which will be highlighted by entertainment shows, deputy chairman of the PDIP North Sumatra branch Budiman Pardamean Nadapdap revealed.

All may join in the event because "this is a victory for all," he remarked referring to Jokowis election win.

The North Sumatra chapter of Nasdem has also planned a similar event. "Preparations are still under way," party chapter secretary Iskandar ST stated on Thursday.

National police chief General Sutarman has reassured he will deploy 24,815 personnel to ensure security before and after the inauguration event.

"We will deploy a posse of personnel along the route from the parliament building to the State Palace," he stressed.

Zulkifli said here on Thursday that he will meet Prabowo Subianto on Friday to present the invitation for the inauguration ceremony.

Prabowo had contested the result of the presidential election in court and the court had later ruled the results as legitimate. However, Prabowo has not yet congratulated Jokowi.

Zulkifli expressed hope that Prabowo will attend the inauguration and also meet with Jokowi.

He added if the meeting happened, it will be an example of ideal political behavior, because after the elections, rival parties are expected to stay united for the development of Indonesia for the next five years.

"Prabowo is a statesman so I believe he will attend the inauguration," Zulkifli remarked.(*)

Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014