Youth

The issue of the moment: it's time for a young leader. Most of the candidates for the presidency are no longer in the first flush of youth. The incumbent, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is 59; his vice-president, Jusuf Kalla, is 66; former president Megawati Sukarnoputri is 61, as is UN-indicted former general Wiranto. Older still are the sultan of Yogykarta at 62 and former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso at 64. Disgraced former general Prabowo is bringing up the rear at a mere 58.

So, goes the cry, it's time to give the youth a chance. This may be reinforced by the fact that most of the aforementioned candidates stood in 2004, giving the impression that they are closing the door on the next generation.

Any young candidates? Well, there is Soetrisno Bachir - a mere adolescent of 51 and Hidayat Nur Wahid is 48. And the candidate who is shouting loudest for a chance for the young: Rizal Mallarangeng (44), who was apparently inspired by Barrack Obama's appeal among the younger generation.

So what do the older generation say when this issue is raised. Well, it's all rather awkward. You see they have spent lots of time (and money?) to get where they are, and are not about to give way to a bunch of whippersnappers. They give coy replies about experience (er... Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, was 45 when he came to office and Suharto was 46) and then say they'll wait until after the legislative elections. They may deign to run with a youthful vice-president, but like naughty children, we will have to wait and see.