OSO vs KPU
The Chairman of the Hanura Party Oesman Sapta Odang (OSO) is still in a legal battle with the General Election Commission (KPU) regarding his nomination as a candidate for the Regional Representative Council (DPD) in the 2019 legislative election. Recently, the Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, by way of a letter, asked the KPU to follow up on the verdict of the State Administrative Court (PTUN) of Jakarta to acknowledge OSO’s DPD nomination. Pratikno, in the said letter, claimed to have sent the letter per the instruction of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The KPU, however, stands by its decision to cancel OSO’s nomination.
The Big Four
Polls have predicted that the Big Four political parties after the 2019 general election would be PDIP, Gerindra, Golkar, and PKB. A new survey from Charta Politika even found that PDIP could win the 2019 legislative election in all regions, except Sumatera and Sulawesi.
Yusril vs Rizieq Shihab
Senior law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who is also the chairman of the Muslim-based Crescent Star Party (PBB), is having a very public spat with the leader of the hardline group Islam Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab. It’s an entertaining spectacle given that Yusril had a cordial relationship with Rizieq Shihab. Things went bad between both men after Yusril declared his endorsement of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The Campaign Trails
The incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his running mate KH Ma’ruf Amin (Jokowi-Amin) have gotten the endorsement of the Sigar family, a family of Prabowo Subianto’s mother in Minahasa, North Sulawesi. PAN’s Maluku chapter also decided to endorse the incumbent. Prabowo and his running mate Sandiaga Uno (Prabowo-Sandi), meanwhile, collected the endorsement of a group of Bugis-Makassar people in Jakarta.
More Polling Figures
Three more polling agencies have released the results of their electability survey this month. All of them found President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his running mate KH Ma’ruf Amin (Jokowi-Amin) leading the race. Two have even boldly predicted a victory for Jokowi.
Security Update
The Indonesian National (POLRI)’s Counter-terrorism Detachment 88 (Densus 88) are still looking for people affiliated with the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). On March 28, they arrested a person with the initial WP in Bandung. He’s allegedly a part of the JAD Bandung cell. Here are the list of terrorism-related arrests the Police have made since April 10:
A Sign of Defeat?
We are only weeks away from the election day. The game is not over, but key members of the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno (Prabowo-Sandi) camp have acted as if they’re preparing for a defeat.
Political Outlook: Legislative Election Winners
In the 2014 legislative election, PDIP won 15 provinces, Golkar won 13 provinces, while Gerindra, PKB, Democratic Party, PAN, and Nasdem won 1 province respectively. How would the landscape look after the 2019 general election.
Political Outlook: What to Expect?
We’re only two weeks away from the election day. The question that remains is what can we expect from the winners of the presidential race? What if President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo were re-elected? What would happen if the winner is Prabowo Subianto?
Amien Rais’ Taunts
Amien Rais has made plenty of controversial statements. Recently, however, he’s been very focused. Amien has consistently fomented doubt on the neutrality of the election organizers. His most recent statement has provoked the reaction of many. Amien said that the supporters of Prabowo-Sandi would rather not follow the election dispute mechanism in the Constitutional Court should their side find evidence of systematic election fraud. Should you care about this?