President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's nomination of the incumbent Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Boediono, as the new governor of Bank Indonesia is a breakthrough in the deadlock over the selection of a new leader for the central bank.

Boediono, more than anyone else, is the best candidate for the job, both because he is politically acceptable to the House of Representatives, and because he can meet all the tough requirements in the face of the uncertainty in the international financial market and weakening global economy.

He is also a greatly capable macroeconomist with extensive international networks and experience, including as a governor of the World Bank.

Boediono is a good speaker, an able chief executive and an international diplomat with a calm and careful attitude in getting things accomplished.

His knowledge and blend of experiences--he was finance minister during Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration in 2001-2004, a deputy governor at Bank Indonesia in 1996-1998 and state minister for development planning--is especially suitable now Indonesia's fiscal and monetary authorities must strengthen cooperation and coordination in a high inflationary environment.

Most importantly, however, is that the 65-year-old Wharton-trained economist commands impeccable integrity and competence and is highly respected both in international and domestic circles.

All this will greatly help the integrity and credibility of the central bank which has been beleaguered by several corruption cases with its outgoing governor Burhanuddin Abdullah and two other senior executives already declared as corruption suspects.

Despite Boediono's deep involvement with the Yudhoyono government over the past two years, there should be no doubt of the political independence of the central bank under his leadership.

Boediono is the kind of person who is able to stand firm against political pressure or interference from the government or any members of the Cabinet, especially in view of the upcoming general elections and presidential elections next year.

Boediono's nomination has left the President with the tough job of selecting an equally capable person for a new chief economics minister to replace him.

However, Yudhoyono rightly gave top priority to the selection of the new central bank chief to replace Burhanuddin, who will end his term mid-May.

The requirements of the new chief economics minister are equally as stringent as those of the central bank governor position. Boediono's successor should be capable of maintaining the credibility and consistency of the government's economic-policy making and implementation.

The new coordinating minister should be able to comprehend the importance of a coherent and credible strategy which outlines how the various individual policies hang together, showing on the path toward the broad direction in which the economy is being steered.

The recruitment process for the new coordinating minister position should, however, be easier as the selection process is entirely under his control. The President is not required to enter the "political jungle" at the House.

So, all in all, the selection process at the House should be smooth because, in terms of political acceptability, integrity, credibility and experiences in fiscal and monetary management and international networks, Boediono is far better than the two previous candidates--Agus Martowardoyo, chief executive officer of Bank Mandiri, and Raden Pardede, vice president of the state Asset Management Company--who were both voted down by the House.

The House -- and especially factions which are still disappointed with the single candidate that may try to block Boediono -- are well advised to realize the adverse impact of a protracted political process of selecting a new central bank chief on the government's macroeconomic management capability.

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