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 Radjasa

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: Suryadarma Ali

Social affairs: Salim Segaf Aljufri

Trade: Mari Pangestu

Transport: Freddy Numberi

Central bank governor

Darmin Nasution