The Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) predicted that the 2024 race will be two rounds if there are three pairs of presidential candidates competing in the race. The pollster also predicted that Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan will be head-to-head in the second round, and based on its latest electability survey, Ganjar will win the race with a significant margin.

The Military Commander (Panglima TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono officiated a second round of job rotation affecting 83 high-ranking officers. One of them is Brig. Gen. Rafael Granada Baay, who has been appointed as the new commander of the Presidential Guard (Danpaspampres).

National media outlets are highlighting a close relationship between the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the chairperson of the ruling party PDIP, and the Mayor of Solo Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The two figures recently met during the inauguration event of the new Semarang Mayor.

The waiting game continues! President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo did not announce cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday (Feb 1). In a related development, media mogul Surya Paloh, who is also the chairman of Nasdem Party, met with the Chairman of Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto. 

The Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo recently met with the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the chairperson of the ruling party PDIP. The meeting between Megawati and Ganjar, who appears as the frontrunner in various polls, is worth highlighting in light of 2024 race.

National media outlets are highlighting the absence of two ministers from Nasdem, a political party led by media mogul Surya Paloh, in a limited cabinet meeting led by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace Jakarta on Tuesday (Jan 31). The absence triggers more speculations about cabinet reshuffle. Will Jokowi announce the reshuffle today (Feb 1) and kick Nasdem ministers out of the cabinet?

Sandiaga Uno, a key leader of Gerindra Party, recently revealed to the press the political agreement between Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan back in 2016. Anies reportedly agreed not to run in the 2024 presidential race in exchange for Prabowo’s support in the Jakarta’s 2017 gubernatorial election. Anies’ side, however, denied there was such agreement. This public spat is worth highlighting as part of the dynamics ahead of 2024 race.

Sudirman Said, the campaign manager of Anies Baswedan, claimed that Anies is the first presidential candidate who has officially secured a ticket for 2024 race following the recent endorsement from PKS and Democratic Party. PKS gave its endorsement for Anies in a press briefing held on Monday (Jan 30), four days after Democratic Party announced its endorsement for the former Jakarta governor. However, media outlets highlighted the absence of Nasdem, the first political party that nominated Anies, from the recent press briefing.

The Chairman of Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, who is also the minister of defense, continues his political safari to Medan, North Sumatera. In Medan, Prabowo met with the Mayor of Medan Bobby Nasution, who is also the son-in-law of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.