From PCO to Bakom: New name, same problem
The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) was transformed into the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) in September 2025. Its leadership changed, and its communication mandate was expanded to include coordination with regional governments. However, with multiple state actors surrounding the president exercising similar powers, this transformation has yet to show any significant improvement.
The political economy of local corruption in Indonesia
The arrest of Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari, a politician affiliated with the National Mandate Party (PAN), by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) once again highlights a persistent feature of Indonesian local politics: corruption at the regional level remains deeply embedded in the political economy of governance.
Siaga 1 and politics of geopolitical anxiety
The Military’s decision to raise its readiness status to Siaga 1, the highest operational alert, was officially framed as a precautionary measure in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Yet such decisions are rarely purely technical. In Indonesia’s political context, military readiness often reflects deeper concerns about domestic stability as much as external threats.
Another education super-app: innovation or repeating the digitalization trap?
The Ministry of Education’s new “Super Rumah Pendidikan” application is being promoted as a unified ecosystem to improve digital literacy, especially for students in remote and underdeveloped regions. Officials describe it as a “super-app” that integrates hundreds of educational services into a single platform, promising easier access to learning materials, teacher training and student resources.
AI geopolitics: The rivalry shaping the future of technology
Artificial intelligence is no longer merely a technological competition among Silicon Valley companies. It has evolved into a geopolitical arena where economic power, national security and digital influence intersect. At the center of this emerging contest stand three American technology players: OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Domestic workers and the politics of legislative delay
For more than two decades, Indonesia has debated the need to legally protect one of the country’s most invisible workforces: domestic workers. Yet despite repeated commitments from lawmakers, the long-awaited Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The latest debate over dispute-resolution mechanisms shows that the problem is no longer simply legal complexity, but the politics of legislative delay.
Cepu and the politics of the 50:50 debate
Debate over the future of Cepu, the largest oil producing block, has once again exposed a familiar tension in Indonesia’s energy policy: the delicate balance between attracting investment and defending national resource interests. The latest controversy centers on reports that ExxonMobil sought a 50:50 production split with the government in negotiations over the extension of the Cepu Block contract. While some officials acknowledged the figure appeared in early discussions, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has firmly rejected the suggestion that such a proposal is on the table.
BoP dilemma amid the Iran–US escalation
The rapid escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States has unexpectedly exposed a diplomatic dilemma for Indonesia. In the days following the conflict, a series of political and diplomatic signals emerged in Jakarta: former president Megawati Soekarnoputri sent a letter of condolence to the Iranian ambassador, the envoy later met former vice president Jusuf Kalla, and only afterward did the government issue an official message of sympathy through the Foreign Ministry. At the same time, President Prabowo Subianto is reportedly preparing to meet leaders of major Islamic organizations and has openly stated that Indonesia is considering withdrawing from the Board of Peace (BoP).
Prabowo’s geopolitical play
President Prabowo Subianto invited former presidents and vice presidents to the State Palace this week, the official explanation was to discuss “global geopolitical developments.” The wording was intentionally broad. But the timing—amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and shortly after Indonesia formalized the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States—makes the meeting far more consequential than routine consultation.
Golkar’s second regent in an OTT
The arrest of Fadia Arafiq in a recent sting operation (OTT) by the Commission for the Eradication of Corruption (KPK) has quickly evolved from a local legal case into a national political signal. With this operation, Fadia became the second Golkar regent to be ensnared in an OTT during President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, following the earlier case of Ardito Wijaya in Lampung Tengah.