Jokowi’s Running Mate Talk
The race for becoming Jokowi’s running mate is still on. There were reportedly only five names of candidates left for consideration, but there are several versions of the list. For the purpose of this article we divide the potential candidates into three groupings....
Prabowo’s Running Mate Talk
The Gerindra Party have confirmed that there are seven candidates left to consider as a potential running mate for their party chairman Prabowo Subianto. Who are these candidates? Who has the best chance?
More Sting Operations and Corruption at the House Commission VII
On Friday last week, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a Sting Operation in Jakarta. There were hints in the afternoon that the KPK had arrested a member of the House of Representatives, but the KPK did not provide any details until the evening of July 14, 2018. It was later revealed that the Sting Operation was related to a bribe involving the Deputy Chairman of the House Commission VII Eni Saragih. At the heart of the case is the ongoing power plant project in Riau. Eni’s arrest marks the 16th Sting Operation conducted by the KPK so far.
People on the Move
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested Eni M. Saragih, politician from Golkar Party, in yet another sting operation. She becomes the ninth lawmaker in the period of 2014-2019 arrested by KPK. Eni was promoted deputy chairman of House Commission VII, overseeing mining, energy, and environmental affairs last year.
Jokowi & Consolidation in the Military
Pretty much as predicted, military commander Hadi Tjahjanto has appointed Lt General Andika Perkasa as the new commander of Army’s elite force Kostrad to replace Lt General Agus Kriswanto, who enters mandatory retirement. This is seen part of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo’s further consolidation of power in the military.
Bracing for Surprises from Jokowi
A man full of surprises, Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is now expected to surprise public with his choice of running mate for next year’s race. It is increasingly clear that the President will pick non-partisan partner, closing the door for names from political parties, including Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), son of the sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).
Law Journal: BLBI Graft Case and Anas Urbaningrum’s Reconsideration
On July 12, 2018, the Central Jakarta District Court held two important trials. First, the trial of Syafruddin “Syaf” Arsyad Temenggung, the former chairman of the Indonesia’s Bank Restructuring Agency (BPPN), who is a suspect in the BLBI graft case; and the trial on the Reconsideration plea filed by Anas Urbaningrum.
Judicial Review Lawsuits against PKPU No. 20/2018
The debate on the plan to ban ex-graft-convicts from participating in legislative election will not end soon. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights refused to promulgate the regulation drafted by the General Election Commission (KPU), but even so the KPU still published the regulation on June 30, 2018 and it is now in effect. Several ex-graft-convicts who wishes to participate in the upcoming regional election decided to challenge the regulation at the Supreme Court.
Witness for the Defense: Jusuf Kalla
Suryadharma Ali, the former Minister of Religious Affairs who’s now a graft convict, filed a Reconsideration (PK) petition at the Supreme Court last month. The trial began two weeks after that and Suryadharma still claim innocence. What’s interesting to note from the trial is the presence of Vice President Jusuf Kalla as a witness for Suryadharma. This is the fourth time Jusuf Kalla has attended trials of cases of corruption as a witness for the defense.
Jokowi’s Challengers
Anies Baswedan and Gatot Nurmantyo are now being increasingly mentioned as alternative presidential candidates. Some believe that both might actually stand a chance vis-a-vis President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.