Official name
Republic of Indonesia
Form of government
Power has historically been concentrated in the hands of the president, but recent constitutional amendments have given the legislature an expanded role
Executive
The presidency is the highest executive office, with authority to appoint the cabinet
Head of state
The president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
National legislature
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) consists of a 550-member House of People's Representatives (DPR) and a 128-member Regional Representatives' Council (DPD)
National elections
April 2009 (DPR); July 2009 (presidential). Next elections: 2014 (DPR and presidential)
National government
Mr Yudhoyono's second-term government contains representatives of the Democratic Party (PD), Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP)
Main political organisations
There are three nationalist secular parties: the PD, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P). The other main parties-the PPP, the PKB, the PAN and the PKS-have an Islamic orientation
President: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Vice-president: Boediono
Key ministers
Agriculture: Suswono
Co-ordinating minister for the economy: Hatta Rajasa
Co-ordinating minister for people's welfare: Agung Laksono
Co-ordinating minister for political, security & social affairs: Djoko Suyanto
Culture & tourism: Jero Wacik
Defence: Purnomo Yusgiantoro
Education: Muhammad Nuh
Energy & mineral resources: Darwin Saleh
Finance: Agus Martowardojo
Foreign affairs: Marty Natalegawa
Forestry: Zulkifli Hasan
Health: Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih
Home affairs: Gamawan Fauzi
Industry: M S Hidayat
Justice & human rights: Patrialis Akbar
Manpower & transmigration: Muhaimin Iskandar
Public works: Djoko Kirmanto
Religious affairs: Suryadharma Ali
Social affairs: Salim Segaf Aljufri
Trade: Mari Pangestu
Transport: Freddy Numberi
Central bank governor
Darmin Nasution