Politics

PPP, a small Islamic party that is strongly affiliated to the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Perindo, another small party controlled by media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo, are following Nasdem, a political party led by media mogul Surya Paloh, to join Prabowo’s coalition and to support the next administration. Prabowo is now waiting for PKB and PKS to join his coalition as well.

PDIP, the largest political party in the country, officially announced its pick for this year’s simultaneous regional elections in an event held at the Party’s new headquarters in Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng, Central Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug. 14). The Party, however, has yet to announce its pick for gubernatorial elections in key provinces such as Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Central Java, and Banten.

The matriarch of PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri addressed many issues during her speech on Wednesday (Aug. 14) when PDIP announcing its regional head candidates for this year’s simultaneous regional elections. One of them is about the leadership of PDIP, in which she said that she will delay her retirement and continue leading the Party.

Apart from all the hullabaloo over the leadership of Golkar Party, the rumor of a cabinet reshuffle is reemerging. It is said that the outgoing President Jokowi will make changes into four ministerial positions, and he also hinted at the reshuffle during his visit in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara on Tuesday (Aug. 13).

Pretty much as predicted in a previous article, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has been appointed as the acting chairman of Golkar replacing Airlangga Hartarto in the Golkar’s plenary meeting held last night (Aug. 13). The meeting also resulted in a decision that Golkar won’t hold an extraordinary congress (Munaslub), but the Party will accelerate its chairmanship congress (Munas) from December to Aug. 20. All signs are pointing to Bahlil Lahadalia, who is known very close to the outgoing President Jokowi and also has a good relationship with President-elect Prabowo Subianto, as the new chairman of Golkar in the upcoming Munas.

PKB, the largest Islamic party in the country, confirmed that the Party will join forces with Gerindra, a political party led by President-elect Prabowo Subianto, in this year’s gubernatorial elections in major provinces such as Jakarta, West Java, and Central Java. PKB will also announce the joining of the Party into Prabowo-Gibran’s coalition to support the next administration during the Party’s chairmanship congress on Aug. 25.

Today (Aug. 13), Golkar, the largest political party in Prabowo-Gibran’s coalition, will announce its acting chairman to replace Airlangga Hartarto, who has just resigned from his position. It looks like Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, one of Golkar’s deputy chairmen, will replace Airlangga. It is clear, however, whether Agus will later be elected as the new definitive chairman of Golkar in the Party’s chairmanship congress (Munas) or the Party’s extraordinary congress (Munaslub). This might depend on the dynamics between the outgoing President Jokowi and President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Someone else such as Bahlil Lahadalia, who is known very close to Jokowi and also have a good relationship with Prabowo, could come out the other end triumphant.

In the end, it is all about Bahlil Lahadalia, minister of investment, who will likely become the new chairman of Golkar, the second largest political party in the new parliament (2024-2029). Bahlil, who was also recently tipped as new energy and mineral resources minister, played crucial role in getting both Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadyah, two of the largest Moslem organisations, on board for Jokowi administration’s policy in granting mining concessions to religious organizations. 

The Secretary General of PDIP Hasto Kristiyanto sent a signal that PDIP might support Anies Baswedan in this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial election. The question now is whether PDIP can get additional support from at least one political party to provide Anies with a ticket since the Party cannot endorse its governor candidate alone in Jakarta.

Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation from his position as the chairman of Golkar Party, the largest party in Prabowo-Gibran’s coalition. What will happen next?