Just before he announced his intention to relocate the government, his vice-president, Boediono, unveiled a 17-point plan to cut the jams in Jakarta.

ECONOMIST: Should Indonesia move its capital city?

The current finance minister, Boediono, whose fiscal prudence is widely respected, is in the running to keep his job a fact that has helped lift the Jakarta stockmarket more than 6% in the past week.

ECONOMIST: An awkward transition