Jokowi & Police-Military Briefing
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a leadership meeting (Rapim) with the National Police (POLRI) and the Military (TNI) on Tuesday (Jan. 29). It was a special meeting because it was the first time for such a meeting to be held at the State Palace. Jokowi revealed that he had asked for the meeting to be held at the State Palace.
Understanding Jokowi’s Electability
There have been questions on the electability of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The underlying concern is Jokowi’s electability that have remained around 50% even though he is an incumbent. Others, meanwhile, have noted the discrepancy between the high level of satisfaction in Jokowi’s performance and his electability.
SBY on the Move
Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in his capacity as the chairman of Democratic Party, has just finished his eight-day tour of North Sumatera and Aceh. It’s his first political tour in 2019.
Sandi’s Political Ambition
Compared to Prabowo Subianto, Sandiaga Uno has been the more active one in the presidential campaign trail. Sandi has been frequently visiting constituents in the regions all over the country. He visited four provinces in the past ten days—West Java, East Java, Jambi, and South Sulawesi. Below is a recap of Sandi’s tour to the said provinces.
Prabowo-Sandi & Their OK OCE Rhetorics
Sandiaga Uno, the running mate of Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential race, launched the pair’s national OK OCE (One Kecamatan One Center for Entrepreneurship) program. Sandi dubbed the program the so-called Gerakan Ekonomi Rakyat (Gerak) OK OCE.
Jokowi & Wholesale Politics
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is very good at playing retail politics. His frequent trips to the regions shows that. That being said, Jokowi is also a master of wholesale politics. Over the weekend, he attended the 73rd anniversary of the Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the female-wing organization of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia. At least a hundred thousand people attended the said event.
BTP: What’s Next?
The former Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama no longer wishes to be called Ahok. He’d like the public to call him BTP instead. He conveyed that wish in a letter published a few days before his release from prison yesterday (Jan. 24). The public’s reaction on, and the media’s coverage of his newest chapter in life show just how much BTP remains a magnet of attention. What will the future hold for BTP?
Prabowo-Sandi’s Debt Rhetorics
Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno (Prabowo-Sandi) have been continuously speaking on the issue of government debts against incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The pair argued for taxation reform in favor of incurring debts. The problem is that their plan could actually decrease state revenue from tax. There are more of their programs that contradict their aspiration for a nation independent of debts.
Kalla’s Latest Maneuvers
Vice President Jusuf Kalla have recently issued some rather odd statements. He criticized the decision of Adhi Karya to build an elevated track for the Greater Jakarta Light Rapid Transit (LRT) project, and then he criticized the construction of the Trans-Sulawesi railway project. It’s a rather confusing move for he is essentially criticizing himself as the Government, who would’ve been consulted with the aforementioned decisions.
The New Bareskrim Chief Idham Azis
Police Insp. Gen. Idham Azis is the new chief of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim POLRI), which is arguably the third most powerful position in the Police Corps. This appointment solidifies General Tito Karnavian’s grip in the national police knowing that Idham Azis is the Police Chief’s closest friend.