What type of government is in power in Indonesia?
Indonesia has been a unitary republic since its independence in 1945, with a presidential system comprising a president elected by universal suffrage and a legislative assembly.
Structure of the Indonesian Government
Indonesia operates as a unitary republic since 1945. The political system combines :
- A president : head of state and government, elected by direct universal suffrage for 5 years
- A legislative assembly : composed of the DPR (People's Representative Council) and the DPD (Regional Representative Council)
- 34 provinces : with administrative autonomy but within a centralized unitary framework
Evolution of the Political System
Following the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, Indonesia embarked on a democratic transition called "Reformasi". The country has since organized free presidential and legislative elections every five years since 2004.
Key Points
Unlike federal systems, Indonesia remains a unitary state despite its geographic and cultural diversity. The president combines the functions of head of state and head of government, without a Prime Minister.