2024 Scenarios: Early Talks
The presidential race is still three years away, but political observers are already talking about scenarios that might happen in 2024. The Executive Director of Indobarometer M Qodari, for example, mentioned three possible scenarios.
Jokowi & Military Procurement
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo takes the incident involving the Nanggala-402 submarine seriously. He has given directives regarding the procurement of the country’s primary weapons system (Alutsista). The fifth Deputy of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, as quoted by Media Indonesia (May 10), said the President had asked for a long-term plan and continuity on the procurement of alutsista. The President, Jaleswari said, wants a comprehensive report on the life cycle of the country’s alutsista, especially fighter jets, submarines, choppers, tanks, and more.
The 2024 Race Comes Too Soon (4)
We are three years away from 2024, but political parties have already scrambled to endorse its potential presidential candidate and explore the formation of a coalition. Gerindra, for example, has asked its party chairman Prabowo Subianto to run for presidency once more in 2024. The Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), meanwhile, met with the Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan.
Megawati & the New BRIN
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expanded the authority and the organization of the National Research & Innovation Body (BRIN) with the signing of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 33/2o21. The Perpress also officiated the appointment of the Chairperson of the ruling party PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her capacity as the chairman of the State Agency for Pancasila Education’s (BPIP) advisory council, as the supervisor of BRIN. It has attracted a wave of criticisms.
Pressure on the Military Commander
Some politicians in the House of Representatives (DPR) recently asked the Commander of the Indonesian Military (Panglima TNI) Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to resign following the incident involving the Nanggala-402 submarine. One wonders if it is a political maneuver with the intention to push President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo toward accelerating the TNI leadership succession.
Sputnik V Vaccine: Business & Politics
The state-owned pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma recently said that the Government would procure the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia. The Indonesian Drug and Food Control (BPOM), however, is still reviewing the vaccine for emergency use. The procurement is worth...
The End of the Democratic Party’s Conflict?
On Tuesday (May 4), the District Court of Central Jakarta (PN Jakpus) decided to abort a lawsuit filed by the Democratic Party led by Moeldoko against the other Democratic Party led by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). In a different lawsuit involving the said two warring factions, the PN Jakpus suggested both sides to hold a mediation to settle the issue peacefully by consensus.
AHY and Puan Still Insignificant
According to Indikator Politik Indonesia (IPI) and Litbang Kompas, the electability of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY)—the son of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)—and Puan Maharani—the daughter of the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri—have remained insignificant. Like other polling agencies, both Indikator and Litbang Kompas also found Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan and Prabowo Subianto in the top three of potential presidential candidates for 2024.
A New Lawsuit Against Jokowi
A group of people called Tim Pembela Ulama and Activist or the Ulema and Activist Defender Team (TPUA) filed a lawsuit against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the District Court of Central Jakarta (PN Jakpus). The TPUA is led by lawyer/activist Eggi Sudjana.
Prabowo, PAL CEO & Submarine Development Project
Kaharuddin Djenod Daeng Manyambeang, the new CEO of the state-owned shipbuilding company PT PAL, revealed his close relationship with the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, who is also the chairman of Gerindra Party. Kaharuddin said that he had proposed to Prabowo the development of an artificial-intelligence-controlled (AI) submarine, which is a part of his so-called maritime defense concept of “Pagar Nusantara”.