A Concerning Issue in 2024 Race: Identity Politics
Preparations for the 2024 simultaneous presidential, legislative, and regional elections are underway. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has just sworn in the new commissioners of the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) for the 2022-2027 period on Tuesday (April 12). The President told the new leaders of the KPU and the Bawaslu to start preparing for the 2024 elections immediately. The President also asked the KPU and the Bawaslu to pay attention to identity politics.
Luhut’s Jobs
The Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is a man of many things in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration. Unsurprisingly, many see his plethora of roles as too much power. Calls for his dismissal are near-constant, but President Jokowi does not seem to mind it at all. With Jokowi’s latest decision to make Luhut lead the National Water Resources Council, he has covered eight key positions in the past six years of Luhut’s role as coordinating minister.
More Pressure on Luhut from PDIP
Some politicians from the ruling party PDIP continue to pressure Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister of and Investment. They took the opportunity of the current situation to urge Luhut to resign fromMaritime the cabinet. But despite the said pressure, it’s clear that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will keep Luhut in the cabinet with the President’s decision to even give more missions to the minister.
A Message for Jokowi
On Monday (April 11), the peaceful student rally in Jakarta turned to chaos after a violent mob persecuted a lecturer during the rally and created a riot. Similar student rallies also ended in chaos in some regions. The National Police (POLRI) is hunting down the perpetrators and the masterminds behind the riot. Regardless, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo should get the important message from the incident.
Luhut’s New Mission
Some have urged President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to discipline his ministers, including Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The latter created a controversy surrounding the postponement of 2024 elections and a presidential term extension or a third term. Some even demanded the President to dismiss Luhut. But it’s clear that Jokowi still relies on Luhut as the President has entrusted the coordinating minister with a new mission.
Jokowi & Student Rally
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has again addressed the postponement of the 2024 elections and presidential term extension issues. He spoke in the latest limited cabinet meeting held on Sunday (April 10) at the Bogor Presidential Palace. The timing couldn’t be better as the student activists associated with the so-called National Association of the University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) plan to stage a rally today (April 11).
PDIP, NU & the 2024 Race
The Chairperson of the ruling party PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri held a meeting with the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU) Yahya Cholil Staquf, a.k.a Gus Yahya and his younger brother Yaqut Cholil Qoumas a.k.a Gus Yaqut (minister of religious affairs). The meeting is worth highlighting in light of the 2024 race.
The New OJK Leadership
The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XI has elected seven new commissioners of the Financial Service Authority (OJK) for the 2022-2027 period from 14 candidates proposed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Among the said seven new commissioners, Mahendra Siregar has been appointed as the new chairman of the OJK.
The Future of Indonesia’s G-20 Presidency
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I yesterday that she might visit European G-20 members to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Retno’s move is likely Indonesia’s latest attempt to call for Russia’s dismissal from the G-20 Group.
When Prabowo Approach the President’s Son
The visit of the Secretary General of Gerindra Party Ahmad Muzani to Solo, the hometown of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, was another noteworthy political event. In Solo, Muzani met with the City Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also Jokowi’s eldest son. One cannot help but think that the visit is related to the 2024 elections.