Indonesia: Kalla's Victory Is Yudhoyono's Advantage

Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla was elected chairman of the Golkar Party on Dec. 20 after an all-night voting session at the resort of Bali during the party's annual congress. Golkar had previously led the coalition opposed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but its leadership change will see the party falling in line with the government. With Kalla's victory, Yudhoyono will find it easier to push through his reformist economic and political agenda, and Indonesia will have a better chance of increasing its development and becoming a major regional player.