Yudhoyono, Susilo Bambang [key], 1949–, Indonesian army officer and political leader, popularly known as SBY, president of Indonesia (2004–), b. Pacitan, Java. A military officer who was trained both in Indonesia and the United States, in the 1990s he came to support a reduction in the military's influence in Indonesian politics and sought in 1998 to facilitate President Suharto's resignation. Under Presidents Wahid and Megawati he served as minister for security and political affairs but ultimately broke with both leaders. In 2004 he challenged Megawati for the presidency and won a landslide victory after a runoff election, becoming Indonesia's first directly elected president. In office he won regard for his handling of the 2004 tsunami and his efforts to fight corruption and terrorism. He also benefited from Indonesia's economic growth, though large numbers of Indonesians continued to live in poverty. Yudhoyono was reelected in 2009.
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