Indonesia is a highly-controlled semi-democracy, headed by General Suharto, who was returned for his sixth consecutive term as president in 1993.
Main Political Issue
The succession
President Suharto will be almost 77 by the next elections, and is under pressure to ensure a peaceful transition. Vice-President Try Sutrisno appears to be the military's choice, but may not be Suharto's. A key factor in his decision is expected to be the protection of his children and their extensive economic interests.
Profile
Indonesia's elections are invariably won by the SG, a group representing farmers, fishermen and professionals, rather than a political party. The SG is dominated by President Suharto and the armed forces. There have been only two legal opposition parties since 1972 รป the Muslim-dominated United Development Party (PPP) and the Christian-oriented Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). In practice, these operate as ineffective "partners" of government. Opposition to the Javan political elite and its centralist politics has fueled secessionist movements in Sumatra and Irian Jaya and a liberation movement on East Timor, annexed by Indonesia in 1975.
