Then he became governor of the huge city of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. He did more good stuff there and then was basically forced to run for president by his party's leaders.
People all over Indonesia strongly supported him (even Hindus and Christians).
Now he's the president, and he has the tough job of changing a government known for its corruption and bureaucratic mess.
Here's a quote about him from an old article in The Diplomat:
Jokowi relied primarily on his credentials as a successful city mayor to win the support of the electorate, presenting himself as an ordinary person with the necessary political will to deliver quick results. Jokowi’s victory thus rested on a platform of hope and change that resonated strongly with the electorate and easily propelled him to victory over the unpopular previous administration.
His decision to partner with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian and ethnic Chinese, was initially seen as controversial in a country that is predominantly Muslim and Malay. Ultimately his decision proved to be far-sighted, however, as the duo received much of the minority votes.
During his first week as governor, Jokowi made surprise visits to a number of government offices and quickly reprimanded those that were not providing services to citizens. This act earned Jokowi widespread praise from the public although some derided it as a publicity stunt. Still, Jokowi managed to convey the seriousness of his effort to improve residents’ interactions with their government.
You can read more about his challenges in this Time article (click here)...
