Joko Widodo

Joko Widodo
Official portrait, 2019
Joko Widodo
Born	Mulyono 21 6, 1961
Birthplace	Surakarta, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	7th President of Indonesia
Spouse(s)	Iriana Joko Widodo
Children	3

Joko Widodo (born Mulyono, 21 June 1961), commonly known as Jokowi, is an Indonesian politician and businessman who served as the seventh President of Indonesia from 20 October 2014 to 20 October 2024. His rise from a riverside slum in Surakarta to the nation's highest office marked a departure in Indonesian political history: he was the country's first president who did not emerge from the political or military elite that had long dominated the archipelago's leadership. Before ascending to the presidency, Jokowi served as mayor of Surakarta from 2005 to 2012 and as governor of Jakarta from 2012 to 2014. A former carpenter and furniture exporter, he built his political reputation on a populist style characterised by blusukan — unannounced visits to communities and government offices — and an emphasis on pragmatic governance, infrastructure development, and healthcare reform. He was a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for most of his political career before being formally ousted from the party in December 2024. Jokowi left office with a 75% approval rating, though assessments of his presidency remain mixed, with praise for his infrastructure achievements tempered by criticism of democratic backsliding and political dynasticism.

Early Life

Joko Widodo was born Mulyono on 21 June 1961 in Surakarta (also known as Solo), a city in Central Java, Indonesia. His father was Widjiatno Notomihardjo, and his mother was Sudjiatmi. He grew up in a riverside slum neighbourhood in Surakarta, an experience that shaped his later political identity and his emphasis on connecting with ordinary Indonesians. His humble origins would later become a central element of his public image and political narrative, distinguishing him from the established political dynasties and military figures who had historically governed Indonesia.

As a young man, Jokowi developed skills in carpentry and woodworking, which would become the foundation of his career in the furniture business before he entered politics. His upbringing in one of Java's major cultural centres also exposed him to Javanese culture and traditions, elements that would later inform his political style and public persona.

After completing his early education in Surakarta, Jokowi pursued higher education at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, one of Indonesia's most prestigious universities. He graduated in 1985 with a degree in forestry engineering, earning the Indonesian engineering title Insinyur (Ir.).

In 1986, one year after graduating, Jokowi married Iriana. The couple would go on to have three children, including Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Kaesang Pangarep, both of whom would later enter Indonesian politics.

Education

Jokowi attended Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, where he studied forestry engineering. He graduated in 1985 with the Indonesian professional engineering designation Insinyur (Ir.). Gadjah Mada University is one of the oldest and most prominent public universities in Indonesia, and Jokowi's education there provided the technical background that informed his subsequent career in the furniture and wood export business. Unlike many of his predecessors in the Indonesian presidency, who had military academy training or were educated abroad at elite institutions, Jokowi's educational background was typical of the Indonesian middle class.

Career

Business Career

Following his graduation from Gadjah Mada University, Jokowi worked as a carpenter and subsequently established himself as a furniture exporter. His business experience in the furniture industry, rooted in the woodworking traditions of Central Java, gave him firsthand knowledge of small and medium enterprise operations, trade logistics, and the challenges facing Indonesian entrepreneurs. This private-sector background became a distinguishing characteristic when he later entered politics, contrasting with the military or bureaucratic careers of most Indonesian political leaders.

Mayor of Surakarta (2005–2012)

Jokowi entered politics when he was elected as the 16th mayor of Surakarta in 2005, succeeding Slamet Suryanto. His vice mayor was F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo. As mayor, Jokowi quickly distinguished himself through his hands-on governance style and willingness to engage directly with constituents and city problems. He achieved national prominence through his reform-oriented approach to urban governance.

One notable aspect of his tenure was his approach to promoting local vocational education and industry. In 2012, the Surakarta mayor attracted media attention for using a car made by vocational school students, highlighting his support for local education and manufacturing capabilities.

Jokowi's success as mayor of Surakarta was underscored by his re-election in 2010, which was described as a "phenomenal victory" in Indonesian media. His reputation for clean governance, urban revitalisation, and direct engagement with citizens at the local level built the foundation for his subsequent rise to national politics. His approach to governance, including initiatives to relocate street vendors and reorganise public markets, demonstrated a willingness to address long-standing urban challenges through negotiation rather than force. In November 2013, he oversaw the inauguration of new locations for street vendors at Pasar Minggu.

He served as mayor until 1 October 2012, when he was succeeded by his vice mayor F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo following his election as governor of Jakarta.

Governor of Jakarta (2012–2014)

In 2012, Jokowi was elected as the 11th governor of Jakarta, with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (commonly known as Ahok) serving as his vice governor. His tenure as governor, which lasted from 15 October 2012 to 16 October 2014, was characterised by a reinvigoration of local politics and the introduction of several governance innovations that attracted both domestic and international attention.

As governor, Jokowi popularised his signature blusukan visits — unannounced spot checks to government offices, markets, flood-prone areas, and other locations around the capital. These visits, which were widely publicised in the media, served both as a governance tool and as a means of building public support. He improved the city's bureaucracy and worked to reduce corruption within the Jakarta administration.

Jokowi introduced a policy of transparency in governance, agreeing to have Jakarta provincial government meetings broadcast on YouTube and making the city's budget (APBD) publicly available through posters and online platforms.

Among his substantive policy achievements as governor, Jokowi introduced a universal healthcare program for Jakarta residents known as Kartu Jakarta Sehat (Jakarta Health Card), which served as a pilot project for an upcoming national health plan. He also oversaw the dredging of Jakarta's main river to reduce chronic flooding in the capital, and inaugurated the construction of the city's subway system (later known as the Jakarta MRT). These infrastructure and social welfare initiatives earned him attention as a reform-oriented leader and laid the groundwork for his presidential candidacy.

When Jokowi resigned as governor to assume the presidency in October 2014, his vice governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama succeeded him.

2014 Presidential Election

Jokowi was nominated as the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for the 2014 presidential election. He chose Jusuf Kalla, a former vice president, as his running mate. The election, held on 9 July 2014, pitted Jokowi against Prabowo Subianto, a former military general and son-in-law of former president Suharto.

Both candidates initially claimed victory on election day, creating a tense political atmosphere. When the official results were announced on 22 July 2014, Jokowi was declared the winner, but Prabowo rejected the final results and lodged a legal challenge. The dispute was ultimately resolved through the constitutional court, and Jokowi was inaugurated as the seventh president of Indonesia on 20 October 2014.

Presidency (2014–2024)

First Term (2014–2019)

Jokowi took office as president on 20 October 2014, succeeding Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. His first term was characterised by an emphasis on economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare programs. He pursued an ambitious agenda of health and education reform while simultaneously overseeing what became a massive programme of infrastructure construction across the Indonesian archipelago.

The infrastructure programme under Jokowi's presidency included the construction of roads, bridges, ports, airports, dams, and toll roads across Indonesia's islands, an effort that earned him the nickname "Father of Indonesian Infrastructure." This focus on physical development was intended to improve connectivity among the thousands of islands that comprise Indonesia and to stimulate economic growth in regions outside of Java.

On foreign policy, Jokowi's administration emphasised what it described as "protecting Indonesia's sovereignty." This manifested in several notable policy positions, including the sinking of illegal foreign fishing vessels found in Indonesian waters and the prioritising of capital punishment for drug smugglers. The latter policy drew intense diplomatic protests from several foreign powers, including Australia and France, but the Jokowi administration maintained its position despite international pressure.

Jokowi also sought to reform Indonesia's economy, with observers noting that he received a "second wind for reforms" during his first term as he pursued deregulation and measures to improve the business environment.

Second Term (2019–2024)

Jokowi was re-elected in the 2019 presidential election, once again defeating Prabowo Subianto. His second five-year term continued the infrastructure development agenda of his first term while also contending with new challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic and the ambitious project to relocate Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to a new city in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, designated as Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN). The government emphasised that IKN would be designated as a special region at the same level as a province.

During his second term, Jokowi's relationship with his own party, the PDI-P, became increasingly strained. In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Jokowi was perceived by analysts and media as favouring the candidacy of Prabowo Subianto, who this time ran with Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential running mate. While Jokowi made public appearances with the pair, he issued no formal endorsement. Allegations that state resources had been misused to benefit the Prabowo-Gibran ticket were denied by the presidential office and deemed unproven by Indonesia's Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi, MK).

Prabowo and Gibran subsequently won the 2024 presidential election. The Constitutional Court rejected all claims of electoral fraud, but the episode deepened the rift between Jokowi and the PDI-P. In December 2024, Jokowi, along with his son Gibran and his son-in-law Bobby Nasution, was formally ousted from the PDI-P. In 2025, Jokowi joined the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), where he was installed as chairman of the party's advisory board by his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who leads the party.

Personal Life

Joko Widodo married Iriana in 1986, one year after graduating from Gadjah Mada University. The couple have three children, including Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who entered politics and became vice president of Indonesia in 2024 running on the ticket with Prabowo Subianto, and Kaesang Pangarep, who became chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). Jokowi's son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, has also entered politics.

Jokowi has been noted in media profiles for his personal interests, which include listening to heavy metal music, particularly the band Metallica. This detail has been frequently cited as emblematic of his image as a leader who defied the conventions of Indonesian political culture.

The involvement of multiple family members in Indonesian politics has drawn scrutiny from critics and media commentators, with the BBC observing that Jokowi, like leaders before him, has been accused of turning politics into a "family business." The family's collective political influence has been a subject of ongoing public debate in Indonesia.

Recognition

Jokowi's infrastructure development programme during his ten-year presidency earned him the informal title "Father of Indonesian Infrastructure" in recognition of the scale of road, bridge, port, airport, and other construction projects completed across the archipelago during his tenure.

He left office on 20 October 2024 with an approval rating of approximately 75%, making him one of the more popular departing presidents in Indonesian history. Following his presidency, he has continued to appear at high-profile international forums. In November 2025, he delivered the closing address at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, speaking on Indonesia's economic trajectory and development priorities.

His approach to governance — particularly the blusukan style of unannounced visits — attracted international attention and was studied by scholars of political communication as a form of political dramaturgy.

Legacy

Assessments of Jokowi's legacy are divided. Supporters point to the unprecedented scale of infrastructure development during his presidency, the expansion of healthcare and social welfare programs, and his role in demonstrating that Indonesian leaders could emerge from outside the traditional political and military elite. His phenomenal rise from a riverside slum to the presidency has been cited as evidence of the maturation of Indonesian democracy, which is the world's third-largest by population.

Critics, however, have argued that Jokowi's presidency was marked by democratic backsliding, particularly during his second term. The Council on Foreign Relations, in an analysis published shortly after he left office, described his trajectory as a "tragedy," noting that "Joko Widodo assumed office promising to be a different type of leader for Indonesia" but that "his record suggests otherwise." His perceived role in facilitating his son Gibran's ascent to the vice presidency through the 2024 election, and the broader involvement of his family members in politics, drew comparisons to the dynastic tendencies of previous Indonesian leaders.

The Asia Sentinel described the political situation surrounding Jokowi after his presidency as a "post-presidency storm," reflecting a "classic case of backlash" following his departure from power. His ouster from the PDI-P and subsequent move to the PSI illustrated the fragmented nature of his political alliances in the post-presidential period.

The capital relocation project to Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) in Kalimantan, one of the most ambitious undertakings of his presidency, remains under construction and its ultimate success or failure will significantly influence how future historians assess the Jokowi era.