Welcome to office, Mr. President

Wed, 10/21/2009 2:50 PM  |  World

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono were inaugurated Tuesday by the People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Taufik Kiemas, symbolizing their readiness to accept the people's mandate to take Indonesia to a brighter future.

Leaders from neighboring countries - including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Timor Leste President Jos* Ramos-Horta - as well as former president B.J. Habibie attended the ceremony.

Due to the attendance of state guests, the police beefed up security in the Senayan area by deploying 20,000 personnel across the capital. The police also rerouted traffic along the roads encircling the assembly compound, causing severe traffic jams.

In his speech, Yudhoyono thanked outgoing vice president Jusuf Kalla, whom he defeated in July's presidential election, for his services over the past five years. After the ceremony, Kalla headed to his private residence to start enjoying his life as a "commoner".

Later on, Yudhoyono held a reception at the Merdeka Palace to meet with state guests, including the former United States ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Wolfowitz.

Despite the positive ambience at the inauguration, about 600 university students staged a protest in front of the assembly compound. They emphasized their role as the opposition to the government, demanding Yudhoyono keep his election campaign promises. Students also staged protests elsewhere in Indonesia.

Yudhoyono and Boediono, endorsed by the Democratic Party, won the election in a landslide. The pair are expected to address the country's main problems, such as poverty, corruption and bureaucratic reform, as well as improve the economy.

Welcome to office, and good luck!

- The Jakarta Post

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