President of Indonesia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Indonesia |
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Presidential seal
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| Style |
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| Member of | Cabinet |
| Residence |
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| Seat | Jakarta |
| Appointer | Direct popular election |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Indonesia |
| Precursor | Governor-general of the Dutch East Indies |
| Inaugural holder | Sukarno |
| Formation | 18 August 1945 |
| Deputy | Vice President |
| Salary | Rp 62,657,809/US$ 4,379 per month |
The President of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Presiden Republik Indonesia) is the top leader of Indonesia. This person acts as both the head of state and the head of government. The president leads the government's executive branch. They are also the supreme commander of Indonesia's armed forces and police.
Since 2004, the president and vice president are chosen directly by the people. They serve a five-year term. They can be re-elected once, meaning they can serve a maximum of ten years. The current president is Prabowo Subianto. He started his term on 20 October 2024.
Contents
History of the Presidency
Early Days: Sukarno's Leadership
The idea of an Indonesian president started when the 1945 Constitution was being written. This happened just before Indonesia became independent. Sukarno became the first president on 18 August 1945. He was chosen by a special committee.
At first, the president had a mostly ceremonial role. This meant they were like a symbol, while a prime minister ran the government. But Sukarno wanted more power. He believed in "Guided Democracy." This was a system where decisions were made with the president's strong guidance.
In 1959, Sukarno brought back the 1945 Constitution. This made the president the head of government too, not just the head of state. In 1963, he was even named "president for life." However, in 1967, Sukarno had to step down. Suharto, an army leader, then became the acting president.
Suharto's Time in Power
Suharto was elected president in 1968. He ruled for a long time. He made sure that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which is Indonesia's highest governing body, followed his lead. He also limited the power of other political parties.
Suharto had a lot of control over the country. He could issue special rules that acted like laws. This meant he largely ruled by his own decisions. He effectively held almost all the power in Indonesia for many years.
Changes After Suharto: The Reform Era
After Suharto left office in 1998, big changes happened. The presidency became more open and democratic. B. J. Habibie was president after Suharto. Then Abdurrahman Wahid became the first president who had to win against other candidates. He was chosen by votes, not just by agreement.
However, Wahid was later removed from office by the MPR. This showed that the MPR could now check the president's power. His vice-president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, then became president. She was Sukarno's daughter.
In 2001, a new rule was made. From 2004 onwards, the president would be chosen directly by the people. This was a big step for democracy. Also, presidents could only serve two terms. This was to prevent anyone from having too much power again.
In the 2004 Indonesian presidential election, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono became the first president chosen directly by the people. He won against Megawati. He was re-elected in 2009. After two terms, he could not run again.
The 2014 Indonesian presidential election saw Joko Widodo win against Prabowo Subianto. Joko Widodo and his vice-president, Jusuf Kalla, started their term on 20 October 2014.
Who Can Be President?
To become president, a person must meet several requirements. These rules are set by the Indonesian Constitution and other laws.
- They must be an Indonesian citizen from birth.
- They cannot have willingly become a citizen of another country.
- They must be loyal to Indonesia and its founding principles.
- They must be physically and mentally able to do the job.
- They must not have betrayed the nation or been involved in serious crimes.
- They must be at least 40 years old.
- They must have finished at least high school.
- They cannot have served as president for two terms already.
- They must be nominated by a political party or a group of parties. These parties must have a certain number of seats in parliament or votes from the last election.
How the President is Elected and Serves
The president and vice president are elected together. People vote for them directly. The winners must get more than half of all votes. They also need at least 20% of the votes in at least half of Indonesia's 38 provinces.
If no one wins outright in the first round, a second election is held. This is called a runoff. The two pairs of candidates with the most votes from the first round compete again. The pair with the most votes in the runoff wins.
Once elected, the president and vice president take an oath. They promise to do their best for the country. Their term lasts five years. They can be re-elected only once, for a total of ten years.
Taking the Oath of Office
Before starting their job, the president or vice president must take an oath. This usually happens in a meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). If the MPR cannot meet, it happens in the House of Representatives (DPR).
Here is what they promise:
- Oath: "I swear by God to fulfill the duties of President (Vice President) of the Republic of Indonesia to the best of my abilities and in the fairest way possible, to uphold the Constitution by all means and to execute all laws and regulations as straightforwardly as possible as well as to dedicate myself to the service of the Nation and the People."
- Pledge: "I solemnly pledge to fulfill the duties of President (Vice-President) of the Republic of Indonesia to the best of my capabilities and in the fairest way possible, to uphold the Constitution by all means and to execute all laws and regulations as straightforwardly as possible as well as to dedicate myself to the service of the Nation and the People."
What the President Does
The president has many important powers and duties:
- Leading the Government: The president is in charge of the government. They choose and can remove ministers who help run different parts of the government.
- Making Laws: The president can suggest new laws to the DPR. They work with the DPR to agree on new laws. In emergencies, they can make temporary rules that act like laws.
- Military Leader: The president is the supreme commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
- Foreign Relations: The president can sign treaties with other countries. They appoint ambassadors to represent Indonesia abroad. They also welcome ambassadors from other nations. For some actions, like signing treaties, they need the DPR's agreement.
- Justice: The president can grant pardons to people who have been convicted of crimes. They also have a say in choosing top judges.
Help for the President
The president gets help from the vice president and their ministers. Each minister is responsible for a specific area of government, like education or health. The president can also create special teams to give them advice.
What Happens if a President Can't Serve?
If the president dies, resigns, or cannot do their job, the vice president takes over. If the vice president also cannot serve, the ministers of home affairs, foreign affairs, and defense temporarily take charge together. Then, the MPR must choose a new president and vice president within a month.
A president or vice president can also be removed from office. This is called impeachment. If the DPR believes the president has broken the law or is no longer fit for the job, they can ask the Constitutional Court to investigate. If the court agrees, the DPR can ask the MPR to vote on removing the president. The president gets a chance to explain themselves before the MPR makes a final decision.
After Being President
Former presidents in Indonesia receive special benefits. They get a pension (regular payments) for life. They also get a house, with the government paying for electricity, water, and phone bills. Their families receive free healthcare, and they get a car with a driver.
Presidential Awards
As the highest leader, the president automatically receives the highest awards and honors from Indonesia. These are called "Star Decorations." There are 14 such awards given to them soon after they take office. Some examples include:
Star of the Republic of Indonesia
Star of Mahaputera
Star of Merit
Police Star of Merit
Star of Military Service
List of Presidents
Timeline of Presidents
Leaders During the Revolution
During the fight for independence, Indonesia had several leaders:
- Sukarno (18 August 1945 – 18 December 1948)
- Sjafruddin Prawiranegara (19 December 1948 – 13 July 1949) – He led an emergency government when Sukarno was captured.
- Sukarno (13 July 1949 – 17 December 1949)
- Assaat (17 December 1949 – 15 August 1950) – He was president of the Republic of Indonesia when it was part of a larger union called the United States of Indonesia.
- Sukarno (from 15 August 1950) – He became president again when Indonesia became a single, unified country.
Latest Election Results
The most recent presidential election was in 2024. Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka won. They defeated Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo with 58.6% of the votes.
See also
- Vice President of Indonesia
- Presidential state car
- Indonesian Air Force 01
- Paspampres (Presidential Security Force)
- List of presidents of Indonesia
