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nd now the hard part begins.

If president-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo thought he had a tough election, trailed by a harsh political reception at the House of Representatives, then he '€œain'€™t seen nothing yet!'€

From today and for the next five years the whirlwind of politics, statecraft and governance will blow hard in his face. No more promises; no more slogans. It'€™s all work from now on.

Whether his mandate becomes a downward spiral, or a steep climb, will be all up to him and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla.

The first order of the day will be to convey a message of reconciliation and unity.

Jokowi has already begun the process of reconciliation over the past week: a masterful outreach to former foes without the requisite appeasement.

After such a divisive election, we fully expect him to stress the values of unity in his inauguration speech: a message that not only binds the country together, but extends the political value of aligning support for the difficult tasks he faces.

We are hopeful that the opposition coalition recognizes the value of this gesture. A loyal opposition is part-and-parcel of the democratic process. A vengeful foe is but a petty antagonist.

Other elements of society must also play their roles accordingly.

We in the media '€” whether endorsers or detractors of his presidential bid '€” should uphold our function as the fourth estate. The president'€™s best friends will be those who can objectively criticize his work for the sake of constructive dialog.

As the inauguration revelry begins today, the media should be the first to leave the party and jump off the Jokowi bandwagon. That is the pledge this newspaper, at least, will make.

By tomorrow, the nation will be anticipating the announcement of the Cabinet. The potpourri of individuals assigned to government will provide the first opportunity to examine Jokowi'€™s leadership.

Commentators will be watching sharply, markets anticipating nervously.

The choices made will also likely incite the first sighs of disappointment, since individual preferences will color judgment.

We do not expect Jokowi to please everyone, but we do believe his selection should project his personal confidence to govern.

Immediately around the next corner will be the tripwires of the other tough choices he has to make.

Be it on issues related to fuel subsidies, budget re-allocation or unpopular, yet needed policies, his first slew of decisions will determine the outlook of the government for the coming year.

Throughout his career, the president-elect has proven to be a maverick, doing things in unconventional ways with a street-smart savvy that shows he is his own man.

We must remain confident that he will continue to do so in the highest realm of government. That is why he was elected: to lead, not to please.

One of his biggest challenges overall will be on how quickly the president can evolve Indonesia'€™s stale bureaucracy into a more effective machine.

That seems a monumental (some even say impossible) task for any president.

Yet we have not lost hope. Jokowi may not be able to change everything during his term, but at least he can initiate change that will have a long-lasting ripple effect: the same influence he has already exercised to alter the face of Indonesian politics.

One of the ways he has set out to do this has been to undermine the adverse coteries that often monopolize the budgets and projects of various government ministries.

So, for tonight, will should all let our hair down and allow our new president to bask in this historic limelight. But tomorrow, remind him that it'€™s time to work and to make good on the hope laid upon his shoulders.