Politics

Unlike Jakarta and East Java, we may see a more balanced competition between three gubernatorial pairs in the election in West Java, the most populated province in Indonesia. The three gubernatorial pairs are Dedi Mulyadi-Erwan Setiawan from KIM Plus (an expanded coalition of Prabowo-Gibran), Ahmad Syaikhu-Ilham Habibie from PKS-Nasdem, and Ono Surono-Acep Adang Ruhiat from PDIP-PKB.

After massive protests from civil society groups, student activists, and those from Partai Buruh (Labor Party) led by Said Iqbal, Anies Baswedan’s supporter, to support the Constitutional Court’s (MK) ruling that paves the way for more political parties to nominate regional head candidates, PDIP chose to nominate an unexpected candidate for Jakarta election. In East Java election, PKB nominates an unexpected candidate as well.

Pretty much as predicted, PDIP will nominate Tri Rismaharini, who is familiarly known as Risma, as governor candidate to challenge the incumbent Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in this year’s East Java gubernatorial election. PKB, meanwhile, will also nominate its own cadre as governor candidate that will make the East Java gubernatorial election this year into a three-horse race.

Lukman Edy, former secretary general of PKB, sued the result of the latest Muktamar (chairmanship congress) of PKB in Bali, in which Muhaimin Iskandar won his reelection, at the Ministry of Law & Human Rights and he asked the Ministry not to legalize Muhaimin’s leadership. Lukman, who is also former Minister of Disadvantaged Region under the administration of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), said that the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU) will continue the preparation to hold another chairmanship congress of PKB in Jakarta next week.

Other than the Jakarta gubernatorial election, we’re also waiting for PDIP’s pick for the East Java gubernatorial election. Will PDIP nominate Tri Rismaharini, familiarly known as Risma, to challenge the incumbent Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa as it has been rumored for months?

PDIP cancelled the announcement of Anies Baswedan as governor candidate for this year’s gubernatorial election in Jakarta. Anies was actually present at the PDIP’s headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta on Monday (Aug. 26) when PDIP announced six more governor candidates from the Party for the 2024 simultaneous regional elections.

PDIP, the largest political party, is set to announce nomination of Anies Baswedan as candidate for Jakarta governor today. After weeks of intensive discussions, the party, which can now enter the race without necessarily establishing coalition with other parties thanks to the new ruling from the Constitutional Court (MK), has reportedly decided to back Anies few hours ago.

The House of Representatives’ plan to annul the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) has prompted public backlash. On August 22, many protesters flocked to the streets in several major cities in Indonesia to demand justice. The protest is considered the largest in five years.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto denied a rumor of frictions in his relationship with the outgoing President Jokowi. Prabowo, who is also the Minister of Defense and the chairman of Gerindra Party, reminds everyone to stop trying to pit him against Jokowi.