The Regent of Kuantan Sengingi (Kuansing) Andi Putra became the fourth politician from the Golkar Party named a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in the past few weeks. It’s a bad gift for Golkar as the Party has just celebrated its 57th anniversary on Wednesday (Oct. 20).

Political dynasties in Indonesia remain ubiquitous. What happened to Alex Noerdin and his son Dodi reminds us of the corruption case that brought down Adriatma Dwi Putra, the former mayor of Kendari and his father Asrun. Within the past four years, at least four political dynasties have been entangled in graft scandals.

Tomorrow, Oct. 20, the Golkar Party will celebrate its 57th anniversary. Golkar, the second-largest political party in Indonesia, has set an ambitious target of winning the 2024 simultaneous presidential, legislative, and regional elections. The Party sees a reconsolidation as key to reaching the said target. Golkar, therefore, is welcoming of its exes who are keen to rejoin the Party.

The research and development (Litbang) section of Kompas, the largest newspaper in Indonesia, has just released the result of its latest survey. The Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo (PDIP) appears capable of matching the electability of the Chairman of Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto (Minister of Defense).

The latest rumor regarding cabinet reshuffle is that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo might send a presidential letter (surpres) to the House of Representatives (DPR), nominating a military commander (Panglima TNI) before setting off to Rome, Italy. The President is scheduled to attend the closing of the G20 Summit in Rome on Oct. 30, 2021.

Some former officials of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have expressed interest in establishing a new political party. The said former KPK officials are those who were recently dismissed for having failed to pass the civic knowledge test (TWK). If they really establish a new political party, one wonders who will be their financier(s) and who they will endorse in the 2024 race.

It’s not a secret that the Chairman of Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto wants to run in the 2024 presidential race. We can understand why. Golkar is the second largest political party in the country. The Golkar Party stated that it only needed the backing of one political party to provide a ticket for Airlangga. The problem is that Airlangga’s electability remains insignificant.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi revealed a new cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Turkey in some strategic sectors. One of them, according to Retno, is cooperation in the development of the defense industry, including in the development of aircraft and tanks.