Signals from Kalla
Vice President Jusuf Kalla defended President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after the opposition group criticized the President over the speech he gave at a volunteers event late last week. This is an interesting development in the midst of questions whether Kalla would continue to support Jokowi in the 2019 presidential race.
The Build-Up to the Presidential Election
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with the leaders of the PP Muhammadiyah and the leaders of the Muhammadiyah student wing organization IMM at the State Palace in Central Jakarta yesterday (August 6). Muhammadiyah, as we all know, is the second largest Moslem organization in the country after the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU). In the meantime, Prabowo Subianto again met with a group of Moslem clerics called the GNPF Ulama at his private residence in South Jakarta.
All Eyes Turn to the Constitutional Court
Less than four days, 80 hours to be exact, the 2019 presidential election will be defined. Supporters of vice president Jusuf Kalla are increasingly nervous because the Constitutional Court yet to schedule the hearing for their judicial review about the term of president and vice president. The Court has also yet to schedule hearing for judicial review of presidential threshold, result of which could be a game changer.
The Build-Up to the Presidential Election
President Jokowi was seen giving a briefing to the lawmaker candidates from PDIP at the Mercure Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta yesterday (Aug 5). Jokowi basically asked the said lawmaker candidates to communicate to the people about the accomplishments of his administration. However, when asked by journalist about the recommendation of some ulemas from the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) to choose the Chairman of PKB Muhaimin “Imin” Iskandar as a VP candidate, the President was reluctant to give response.
The Build-up to the presidential election
So, both Prabowo Subianto and his ex wife Titiek Soeharto have just posted old pictures, when they’re young. Supporters cheered and expressed hopes of reconciliation, while opponents cynically commented on this ‘every five-year of reconciliation hope’. No matter how hard they tried, family is not Prabowo’s best feature entering presidential election.
Pertamina, PLN, and The Politics
Pertamina and PLN are two of the largest companies in Indonesia. They are too big to fail. They handle two of the most politically sensitive commodities: fuel and electricity. That’s why President of the republic of Indonesia should have full grip over these companies, and, accordingly, their president director should be someone the President can count on.
Build-up to the presidential election
Democratic Party, led by Indonesia’s sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), has finally promoted Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), son of SBY, as running mate of Prabowo Subianto in next year’s election. Syarief Hasan, deputy chairman of the party, admitted that it has formally submitted AHY to Prabowo.
The build-up to the presidential election
On the evening of August 10th, Indonesians will know pair candidates competing in next year’s election of president and vice president. Till then, we have lots of permutations. Three-way race is increasingly difficult. We might brace for a rematch of Jokowi vs Prabowo, but we will only know their running mates in the last minutes of the registration deadline.
Jokowi’s NTB Trip & 2019 Race
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo was in West Nusa Tenggara province in the past 24 hours for various agenda. First, handling rehabilitation of areas affected by the recent earthquake in the province. Second, for distribution of land certificates. Third, inauguration of Tanju Dam, whose construction was started in 2015. Fourth, inauguration of a modern Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) promoted by Din Syamsuddin, former chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, the second largest Moslem organization.
Prabowo-SBY Coalition
“If asked whether there is still a discussion about Pak Prabowo as president candidate or not, we came here with understanding that he is a president candidate,” said Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), chairman of Democratic Party, about his second meeting with Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra chairman) Monday (Jul 30). Media outlet then interepreted this statement as a ‘deal’ between the two leaders. Some even posted news titles like this: ‘SBY: Prabowo is Our President Candidate’.