Politics

General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the chief of the National Police (Kapolri), has just instituted a job rotation that affected 745 police personnels. Among those affected in the rotation are provincial police chiefs and some generals with strategic positions at the National Police’s headquarters (Mabes POLRI).

While Anies Baswedan is busy with the Jakarta’s 2024 gubernatorial election, in which he seeks his re-election, Ganjar Pranowo is still looking for a way to relaunch his career in Indonesian politics. Anies and Ganjar are the two losing presidential candidates, and both were defeated by Prabowo Subianto in the 2024 presidential race. Let’s talk a bit about Ganjar, especially about what he is doing right now after the defeat.

PKS, the largest political party in Jakarta, has officially announced its decision to endorse Anies Baswedan and pair the incumbent with its former chairman, Mohamad Sohibul Iman, who is also known close to Anies, in this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial election. However, PKS cannot endorse Anies-Sohibul alone. So, the question is, can PKS find a coalition partner to provide Anies-Sohibul with a ticket?

An important development is happening in PDIP in relation to this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial election. PDIP, the second largest party in Jakarta, will reportedly give its endorsement to Anies Baswedan, who is entering the race as incumbent. PDIP, moreover, might pair Anies with its own cadre, Andika Perkasa, a four-star retired general and former Military Commander (Panglima TNI).

The maneuvers from PKB, the largest Islamic party in Indonesia, in the 2024 simultaneous regional elections are worth monitoring in relation to the Party’s future in the next administration. Some people wonder whether those maneuvers are signs that PKB will become the opposition of Prabowo-Gibran along with PDIP. Is it really the case?

The government and president elect Prabowo Subianto have agreed to set aside Rp71 trillion in the State Budget 2025 to finance the free lunch program. The additional expenses, according to finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, will not break the budget deficit cap (3% GDP). 

After the maneuver from the Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Soesatyo  a.k.a Bamsoet, now the Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) La Nyalla Mattalitti is pushing for the amendment to the 1945 Constitution. What are these politicians looking for?

There is no governor candidate who has secured a ticket to enter this year’s gubernatorial election in Jakarta, not even Anies Baswedan, who will run as incumbent. Political parties are still waiting before determining the coalition for the Jakarta election, and they have to form a coalition knowing that there is no political party that can endorse a pair of governor & vice governor candidates alone. This is a bargain game since the coalition for Jakarta election could be related to the establishment of the next administration of Prabowo-Gibran.

The government have been under pressure from existing business players and lawmakers (DPR), including those within the ruling coalition, related to permits and operations of Elon Musk’s Starlink in Indonesia. While the opposition mainly raised concern on Starlink’s impact to state company Telkom, owners and operators of BTS (mostly politically connected) have joined the ride in demanding scrutiny. 

People are still wondering who will become the next Attorney General (AG) in Prabowo-Gibran’s cabinet. In the meantime, the outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has just appointed Feri Wibisono, the deputy attorney general for civil & state administrative affairs (Jamdatun), as the new Vice Attorney General.