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The World Ahead | Asia in 2024

Indonesia will elect a new president in February

But economic policies may not shift much after Jokowi’s departure

Jokowi leaving the frame, with hands, feet and eyes peering through his shadow
Illustration: Sam Island

By Sue-Lin Wong

Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo is leaving his decade in office on a high. A relentless focus on curating his public persona, coupled with the country’s strong economic growth, means he is well-liked: his popularity hovers around 80%, according to surveys. That in turn means that Jokowi, as he is universally known, will be pivotal in deciding who the country’s next leader will be when the world’s third-largest democracy goes to the ballot box on Valentine’s Day 2024.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2024 under the headline “After Jokowi”

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