Cabinet Reshuffle Talks
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with social media influencers at the Bogor Presidential Palace. In the said meeting, the President addressed the complaints made on the performance of his cabinet. Some, including those present in the said meeting, believe that it was a signal from the President that changes to his cabinet is coming. The State Palace, however, quickly denied that speculation.
The 2020 Makassar Mayoral Race
The city election in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province, is one of the interesting regional elections to watch this year given the relatives of some big names in Indonesian business and politics are seeking to run in the race. They are Munafri Arifuddin a.k.a Appi, the nephew of former Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the son-in-law of Aksa Mahmud, and Irman Yasin Limpo a.k.a None, the youngest brother of Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo.
Jokowi’s KPK: Anti-Climax
Two months have passed since the new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leadership began working. Their performance has been very disappointing. One of their notable failures is not being able to catch Harun Masiku, a PDIP lawmaker who suspected of bribery.
Hardliners on the Move (2)
The Islamic Defender Front (FPI), the National Movement to Safeguard Ulema Fatwas (GNPF-Ulama), and the 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) staged a rally on Friday Feb. 21, 2020, criticizing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration. The said three groups are led by Rizieq Shihab, who is still in a self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia.
The New Electability Surveys
The 2024 presidential election is still four years away, but many are already busy wondering who will run in the race. Two different polling agencies have released the result of their electability survey, in which both found that the Chairman of Gerindra Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, who is now the minister of defense, on the lead.
Erick’s Political Accommodation
On January 31, 2020, Arteria Dahlan, lawmaker from PDIP (the largest political party within Jokowi-Ma’ruf’s ruling coalition) urged General Idham Aziz, the new national police chief, to investigate the business dispute between PT Rekayasa Industri (subsidiary of state-owned fertilizer holding PT Pupuk Indonesia) and PT Panca Amara Utama, subsidiary of PT Surya Esa Perkasa Tbk (ESSA), a company co-owned by Boy Garibaldi Thohir, older brother of Erick Thohir (minister of state-owned enterprises).
Ahok, Gatot Nurmantyo & Political Anomaly
There are plenty of anomalies in Indonesian politics that political scientists may find it difficult to formulate theoretical explanations. Prabowo Subianto, who lost to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the 2019 presidential election, became the President’s minister. Prabowo’s Gerindra, the largest opposition party in the country, became a member.
General Andika Perkasa & 2024 Race
The Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Andika Perkasa, who is the son-in-law of former Chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General AM Hendropriyono, has been leading the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) for 15 months. He has been mentioned as the most likely candidate to become the new military vice commander and the next military commander. That said, unlike his predecessors, Andika is considered to be very quiet.
Reading PDIP’s Signal for Gibran
The Chairperson of the ruling party PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri has not yet announced her decision on who would get the Party’s endorsement in Surakarta’s 2020 city election. That said, the Party’s elites have given off signs that many believe point to the endorsement of the President’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
PDIP’s Pick for Regional Elections
The ruling party PDIP has on Wednesday (Feb. 19) announced its choice of 49 pairs of regional head candidates who will compete in the simultaneous regional elections this year. The Party will announce more pairs of its choice in the coming days, including those who will compete in Surakarta (Central Java) and Medan (North Sumatera) city elections.