Category: Politics

Most surveys placed Golkar Party ahead of PDI-P and Demokrat for 2014 legislative race. That has lifted optimism of some Golkar leaders that party chairman Aburizal Bakrie could be competitive in 2014 presidential election. They even demand an early nomination of Aburizal in this weekend’s leadership meeting at a resort owned by Bakrie Group.

Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is a popular figure in Solo, Central Java. He won 90% votes for his second term as mayor few years ago. He gained national popularity when he ‘endorsed’ the so-called ‘national car’ assembled by students in the city. Some praised his decision to use the car as ‘official car’ for the mayor, others, however criticized.

Going through names of petitioners, who managed to convince seven out of eight Constitutional Court judges to close down BPMigas, people would come up with various theories about their motives. Government officers’ responses might also trigger more theories.

The Jakarta Post published an article titled ‘Cabinet power struggle may end in reshuffle’ this morning. Targets of the reshuffle might be those recently reported by cabinet secretary Dipo Alam to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the so-called ‘budget-fixing scheme’. They are ministry of defense, agriculture, and trade.

Lt General (ret) Suharto, former marine commander, filed police report against nine judges at the Constitutional Court. He condemns the Court’s ruling related to the State’s responsibility in bailing out the Sidoarjo mudflow from Lapindo Brantas oil and gas operation since May 2006.

National politics heating up ahead of the second round election of Jakarta governor scheduled next month. Incumbent governor Fauzi Bowo, supported by a coalition of political parties led by President SBY’s Demokrat Party, has been trying almost everything to win the race after shamefully defeated in the first round by Solo mayor Joko Widodo.

Months ago, we said that the chance of Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie aka Ical in the 2014 race is slim for various issues, even without tons of additional bad news that follow his nomination as president candidate. If you ask ordinary people whether they would vote for Aburizal or others, they prefer others (Prabowo Subianto, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Jusuf Kalla and probably new names..).

Central government demands a postponement of elections of leaders in Aceh (governor, regents, and mayors). The incumbent governor, however, believes the elections should be held as scheduled on February 16, 2012. Will the are returning to pre-Peace Accord situation?

When it comes to media industry rules, Indonesia is clearly lot more liberal than any country in the world, even compared to the United States. Media ownership is not an issue here. Individuals like Aburizal Bakrie, Harry Tanoesoedibjo, Chairul Tanjung, Sariaatmadja, Surya Paloh, or James Riady control public airwave not necessarily for public good.

Leo Nickolaevich Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no none thinks of changing himself.” That’s the common respond of some people we asked about the entry of some independent candidates in this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial race.