Joko Widodo was sworn in as Indonesia’s new President on Monday.
Mr. Widodo, the first Indonesian President not to come from the ranks of the country’s established political, business and military elite, took the oath of office in a ceremony at Parliament in Jakarta, attended by regional leaders and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
“To the fishermen, the workers, the farmers, the merchants, the meatball soup sellers, the hawkers, the drivers, the academics, the labourers, the soldiers, the police, the entrepreneurs and the professionals, I say let us all work hard, together, shoulder to shoulder, because this is a historic moment,” said Mr. Widodo.
A former furniture salesman, Mr. Widodo rose from humble beginnings to become Jakarta’s Governor before winning July’s presidential election with 53 per cent of the vote. Polls showed most of his support came from lower-income, non-urban Indonesians attracted by his simple demeanour and record of honest, hard work.