Joko Widodo

7th President of Indonesia

Joko Widodo (Indonesian:; born Mulyono, Indonesian:; 21 June 1961), often known mononymously as Jokowi (Indonesian:), is an Indonesian politician and businessman who served as the seventh president of Indonesia from 2014 to 2024. Previously a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), he was the country's first president not to emerge from the political or military elite. Before becoming president, he served as mayor of Surakarta from 2005 to 2012 and as governor of Jakarta from 2012 to 2014.

Born and raised in Surakarta, Widodo studied at Gadjah Mada University and later worked in the furniture industry, including as an exporter, before entering politics. As mayor of Surakarta, he gained national attention for his populist style, emphasis on urban redevelopment, and direct engagement with residents through blusukan visits. His tenure as governor of Jakarta further raised his national profile, with policies on healthcare, education, bureaucratic reform, flood mitigation, and public transport.

In the 2014 Indonesian presidential election, Widodo was nominated by the PDI-P and defeated Prabowo Subianto, before being re-elected in 2019. As president, he prioritised infrastructure development, social welfare expansion, bureaucratic reform, and economic development. His administration also pursued a pragmatic foreign policy centred on sovereignty, economic diplomacy, maritime affairs, and a more assertive response to issues such as illegal fishing and disputes in the South China Sea. Other major initiatives of his presidency included the planned relocation of Indonesia's capital to Nusantara.

Widodo's presidency has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters have credited him with expanding infrastructure, improving public services, and maintaining political popularity, while critics pointed to his use of the death penalty, restrictions on civil liberties, weakened anti-corruption efforts, environmental controversies, and signs of democratic backsliding. His final years in office were overshadowed by accusations of political interference and dynastic politics, especially after his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka became Prabowo's running mate in the presidential election of 2024. After leaving office that year, Widodo's falling out with the PDI-P culminated in his expulsion from the party.