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The woman who may break through Indonesia’s boys’ club
Politics is often a male-dominated family affair in South-east Asia’s largest economy. Change may come from East Java.
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Ms Khofifah Indar Parawansa was in 2018 elected governor of East Java, the archipelago’s second-largest province.
PHOTO: ALI MASDUKI
Karishma Vaswani
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Indonesia is plagued by dynastic politics, partly as a hangover of its dictatorial past. With democracy increasingly entrenched in the last quarter-century, voters deserve a new generation of leaders who represent a break from the military and political elites that have typically run the country. One female politician is winning the affection of citizens in South-east Asia’s largest economy, with a reputation for effective governance.
Ms Khofifah Indar Parawansa was in 2018 elected governor of East Java, the archipelago’s second-largest province. The 59-year-old is running for office again on Nov 27, with deputy gubernatorial candidate Emil Dardak, in nationwide regional elections.
