Former Mayor of Makassar Ilham Arief Sirajuddin, who is a key leader of Democratic Party in South Sulawesi, decided to resign from the Party and return to the Golkar Party. Arief is the second key leader of Democratic Party jumping ship into another party in the past few weeks because of disappointment to the party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), who is the eldest son of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

Speculation continues about President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the chairperson of the ruling party PDIP. Some believe their relationship is not in a good state because of 2024 affairs. But really?

The Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK), Anwar Usman, tied the knot with Idayati, the younger sister of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Many high-profile figures attended the said wedding ceremony held in Surakarta (Central Java), the hometown of President Jokowi. The President himself, after the wedding, took the opportunity to visit some traditional markets in his hometown to distribute cash assistance (BLT) to local vendors.

The Military Commander (Panglima TNI) General Andika Perkasa responded to the recent support for him to run in the 2024 presidential race. The General diplomatically stated that he’s still focused on his job as a military commander. Andika, as we all know, has only seven months left before his term ends in December 2022.

Four years ago, then Regent of Bener Meriah, Ahmadi (Golkar) was arrested in a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)’s sting operation in an attempt to bribe the Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf. Ahmadi was sentenced to three years in prison at the end of the same year. He completed his prison term not long ago. And now, Ahmadi is once again in trouble with the law. He allegedly violated the Law on Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Its Ecosystems.

The Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Zulkifli Hasan, expressed his pessimism about the chance of the Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (who is also the chairman of the Gerindra Party) of winning the 2024 presidential race given the latter’s losses in the last three presidential elections. Zulkifli, who is also deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative body in the country, stated that his party wants a three-horse or even four-horse race in 2024 to avoid what happened back in the last two presidential elections. But the quality of an election does not depend on the number of contestants participating in the said election.

The Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who will soon end his term in October 2022, gave a message to his successor. In his message, Anies asks the next governor to pay special attention to the development of Kepulauan Seribu or Thousand Islands.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime & investment, has had many roles in Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration. He’s very powerful. So much so that some have called for his resignation. Nevertheless, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo still trusts Luhut and counts on the minister. The President has just given Luhut a new mission: ironing the supply and the distribution of cooking oil.

There is renewed speculation that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is not on good terms with Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairperson of the ruling party PDIP. The speculation followed the President’s recent statement that was widely believed as a strong signal in support of Ganjar Pranowo’s 2024 presidential bid. Is this true?