Politics

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?

We are now having a clearer picture of the KIM Plus scenario, especially in this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial election. It seems that the scenario of the KIM Plus, which is the expanded coalition of Prabowo-Gibran, in the Jakarta election will make Ridwan Kamil as either the sole candidate in the race or he will only compete against an independent candidate.

Today, on Aug. 8, the Selection Committee of the new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders for 2024-2029 period is scheduled to announce the list of candidates that passed the written test. In the meantime, Mahfud MD, former Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law & Security Affairs, talked about the importance of the KPK leadership selection as a crucial step to improve the KPK’s performance.

Vice President (VP) Ma’ruf Amin refuses the request from the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU) for a meeting if its only aim is to look for more ammunitions to hit the National Awakening Party (PKB) led by Muhaimin Iskandar. VP Ma’ruf, who is a former Rais A’am (supreme leader) of PBNU, said that he is willing to meet with the PBNU if they ask him to help them address the issues with PKB instead.

Frustrated with lack of interest from others? Just throw another party! That’s what exactly the outgoing president Jokowi is doing with extravagant independence day celebration in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara. At all cost! 

Former Vice President (VP) Jusuf Kalla responded to the current political dynamics in relation to this year’s gubernatorial election in Jakarta. Kalla’s response is worth highlighting because he is widely known as political mentor and patron figure of Anies Baswedan, who is eager to run in the Jakarta election for his re-election. Kalla, moreover, is an influential figure in Indonesian business and politics.