THE REFORMATION ROLLS ON:

Indonesian President Pledges Reforms If Re-Elected: Yudhoyono`s Democrat Party is well ahead of its more established rivals in the run-up to the April 9 parliamentary elections. (Javno, 2/08/09)

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a gathering of his Democrat Party on Sunday he would push ahead with reforms if he won a second term in this year's elections.

The 59-year-old former general, seen as the most pro-business and pro-reform of Indonesia's presidential candidates, needs to win a strong mandate in order to have the power to overhaul the judiciary, civil service, and police, and deal with the impact of a global economic slowdown.

Yudhoyono's Democrat Party, a centrist party which won just 7.5 percent of the votes in 2004, is well ahead of its more established rivals in the run-up to the April 9 parliamentary elections which will determine which parties can field presidential candidates

An opinion poll last month showed 23 percent of those surveyed would vote for the Democrat Party, potentially reducing the need to rely on several other parties in a coalition.

Just another successful regime change that W doesn't get enough credit for.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 8, 2009 10:54 AM