Joko Widodo June 21, 1961

Joko Widodo - also known as Jokowi - is a popular figure with the Indonesian public, supported by young people in both urban and rural areas, who see him as a clean politician in a country beset by corruption, reports BBC Indonesian's Sri Lestari.

Born in June 21, 1961 in Solo, the son of a wood-seller spent his childhood in a house on a river bank until the local government evicted his family. Observers point to these humble beginnings as key to his popularity.

Mr Widodo began his political career with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) when he was elected mayor of Solo - a city in the centre of Java - in 2005.

In 2010, he was elected for second term with more than 90% of the vote, as people supported policies aimed at boosting small and local businesses.

He rebuilt traditional markets and relocated poor people who lived on the river banks to proper houses.

He then captured national attention when he traded in his regular car for an Esemka - a local vehicle manufactured by a high school team in Solo.

Mr Widodo then went on to run for the position of Jakarta's governor, winning a resounding victory in 2012. He is seen as a man who has the ability to empathise with the poor.

"For me, democracy means listening to the people, and doing what they want me to do," he said during the first televised presidential debate.

"That's why I visit the villages, traditional markets, meet the people in river banks, farmers and fisherman, because I want to hear what people want."

Mr Widodo is famous for his "blusukan" stops - spontaneous visits and spot checks to poor areas to see how people are doing.

He campaigned on a platform of a "mind-set revolution" - a strategy to build national character and stamp out corruption, nepotism and intolerance, all of which he says flourished under former leader Suharto's regime.

Mr Widodo said he would recruit his staff based on their skills, not just from political parties that supported him. He also says that the key to building national character is education.

A big proponent of technology, he has said that if elected he would implement e-governance as a way of reducing corruption in the bureaucracy.

Critics say that he lacks experience in national politics and international relations. Analysts also point out that with his coalition holding only 37% of parliamentary sets, Mr Widodo could face difficulties achieving his policy goals.