By the end of next year, Indonesia could be run by a king. But this would not mean that the world's third largest democracy had suddenly changed course. It would simply mean that Sultan Hamengkubuwono, 62, has convinced Indonesians that he is the right man to be their next president.
The ruler of Yogyakarta, the only territory of the archipelago governed by a monarchy, decided to become a presidential candidate on October 28. He did so after a lengthy process shrouded in half-whispered intentions and superstitious preambles, and only after allegedly receiving the blessing of his dead ancestors.
Tradition also dictates that Javanese royals shy away from 'directly' seeking power. So the sultan only agreed to run after being asked by his followers during the Pisowanan Agung, a gathering normally held for ceremonies such as a coronation or religious festivals.
As thousands of supporters cheered, history was made when the sultan said: 'I am ready to be president.'
It is the first time that a royal has entered a democratic presidential election. The sultan's father, the late Hamengkubuwono IX, served as vice-president from 1973 to 1978 under former president Suharto, but he was appointed.
Whether the sultan will actually manage to run for president is unclear.