Habibie, Bacharuddin Jusuf (1936– )

Indonesian politician, president 1998–99. Elected vice-president of Indonesia in March 1998, he became president in May after president Suharto resigned amid growing economic turmoil. Although he quickly promised wide-ranging economic and political reforms, many critics called for his resignation, seeing him as a puppet of Suharto tainted by the corruption of the old regime, and doubted whether he had the political support or abilities to lead a country in economic crisis.

Trained in Germany as an aeronautical engineer and head of research at Messerschmitt 1966–74, Habibie was minister of research and technology before he became vice-president, and was known for expensive and ill-conceived projects. As a virtual appointee of Suharto he has little grass-roots support or senior-level administrative experience.

In late 1998 Habibie came under increasing pressure to put ex-president Suharto on trial for corruption and to resolve internal conflicts, including religious hostilities between Muslims and Christians.