Any young democracy must clear two big hurdles. It must undergo a peaceful transition from a leader to an opponent, and it must see an incumbent win an election without credible cries of foul. Indonesia has now crossed both barriers. In its first direct presidential election in 2004, the incumbent, Megawati Sukarnoputri, lost to Mr Yudhoyono. Miss Megawati, daughter of Indonesia's founding hero and leader of a tame opposition under Suharto, went into a sulk and boycotted Mr Yudhoyono's swearing-in. But power was handed over smoothly enough.
展开▼
