Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Yudhoyono was elected President of Indonesia in October 2004. A retired military general, he served in various ministerial positions in security and political affairs for Presidents Wahid and Megawati before challenging Megawati for the position. Viewed as a man of values and integrity, Yudhoyono won the first direct democratic presidential elections in Indonesia's history in 2004, and was reelected by a large margin in 2009. Yudhoyono has been credited with taking steps to reduce corruption, initiating sometimes unpopular but needed economic reforms, and ending the protracted conflict in Aceh. The leader of the country with the world's largest Muslim population and a Muslim himself, Yudhoyono is committed to improving international perceptions of Muslim countries.