Bobby Ghosh

There’s a great deal to celebrate in Indonesia’s election. The apparent winner—”apparent” because his opponent may yet challenge the result in the courts—is a popular politician with a record for good governance, and an inspiring rags-to-success story. Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, has been reassuringly humble in victory, and has committed himself to healing the political rifts exposed during the bitterly-contested vote. If he lives up to the reputation for pragmatism and honesty he earned as governor of Jakarta, the world’s fourth-largest nation will be a happier, more prosperous place for it.