President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is in his working visit in Central Java, the third largest province in Indonesia by population, also known as home to the supporter of the President’s political party PDIP. The visit is worth highlighting because the President was accompanied by, among others, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (PDIP) and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra). Both Ganjar and Prabowo are the two frontrunners for the 2024 presidential race in various polls.

The Military Commander (Panglima TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono instituted another round of job rotation. The rotation affects 18 high-ranking officers, and one of them that is worth highlighting is Maj. Gen. Mohamad Hasan, who has been promoted as the new commander of the Greater Jakarta territorial command (Pangdam Jaya). This rotation is worth highlighting in light of the upcoming succession of the military commander and the army chief.

The Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, who is also the chairman of Gerindra Party, accompanied President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in taking the delivery of one of five Super Hercules C-130J cargo aircrafts ordered from the US giant defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, on Wednesday (Mar 8).

Former PPP Chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy, who is now serving as the chairman of PPP’s Advisory Council, has been very active in national politics in the last few days. Recently, he met with Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary general of the ruling party PDIP, which triggers speculation on a potential coalition between PDIP and PPP or even the so-called Koalisi Indonesia Bersatu (KIB). Rommy has also talked about President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s scenario for 2024 race.

The Democratic Party refused the idea of pairing Anies Baswedan with Sandiaga Uno, who is a key leader of Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party. The Party wants Anies’ running mate position to be given to a figure within the coalition, including, of course, its party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY).

The United Development Party (PPP) is expecting a meeting with the ruling party PDIP next week. Rather than forming a new axis just between the two parties, the Acting Chairman of PPP Mardiono wants PDIP to join forces with the so-called Koalisi Indonesia Bersatu or the KIB coalition, a coalition that consists of PPP, Golkar, and PAN.

More details came out from the latest meeting between Prabowo Subianto, the chairman of Gerindra Party, and Surya Paloh, the chairman of Nasdem Party. Gerindra revealed that there was a discussion between Prabowo and Paloh about the possibility of merging Gerindra’s coalition and Nasdem’s coalition into one big coalition of political parties. It is an interesting detail that could lead the 2024 presidential election into a two-horse race should the ruling party PDIP join forces with the Golkar’s coalition.

On Sunday (Mar 5), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited North Jakarta to check the victims of the deadly fire at the Pertamina Plumpang Depot that killed at least 19 locals. The President ordered Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir and Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono to come up with an immediate solution in the next two days. The President also ordered an audit for the safety of the state facilities across the country that posed a similar danger.