JOKO WIDODO:
We all came together at the last minute

DECLARED the winner of the presidential election by a number of reputable polling organizations, Joko Widodo claims to have been sure from the start that he would make it. But to ensure that nothing happens to the ballots when they are transported from the polling stations to the office of the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Jakarta governor said he has witnesses posted at all levels of the vote recapitulation process.

Two days after the vote Jokowi went on a safari to media organizations in Jakarta, including Tempo. He arrived at dusk, just before breaking the fast last Friday, and led the communal prayer. It was not the first visit for 53-year-old Jokowi, whom the magazine named as one of the best regional chief executives in 2008, when he was still mayor of Solo in Central Java. "I am here because I miss Tempo," said Jokowi, to raucous applause. He was accompanied by his advisors, Anies Baswedan, Teten Masduki and Budiman Sudjatmiko. The following are excerpts of an informal interview Jokowi gave at our editorial office:

July 15, 2014