Tireless Jokowi
After a week full of agenda, Jokowi took traveled to the Riau province in the Island of Sumatera for a two-day working visit. The Chief of the President’s Staff Office General (ret) Moledoko, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and the Coordinating Minister for Human Development & Culture Puan Maharani are accompanying the President.
The 2019 Race: Gatot’s Move
Former Military (TNI) Commander General (ret) Gatot Nurmantyo still believes that he’ll eventually get a ticket to run in the 2019 presidential race. Gatot recently met with the Chairman of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, who is also the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Jokowi & His Retail Politics
He attended wedding party of entertainer Raditya Dika and Anissa Aziza on Sunday afternoon. “I envy Raditya for the presence of President Jokowi. I will also invite the President in my wedding,” commented actor Kevin Julio. Hours earlier he was seen at Arthayasa Stable, which is used by Indonesian equestrian team for Asian Games 2018.
The Jokoway
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been busy with State agenda. He recently held a meeting with hundreds of ulemas and muslim intellectuals from all over the world. He’s also been actively promoting the Asian Games. He recently received the visit of Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and China’s Prime Minister (PM) Li Keqiang.
The 2019 Race: Prabowo’s Move
Last week was a busy week for the Chairman of Gerindra Party Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto. After attending a May Day celebration with the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), Prabowo went to East Java. Afterwards, Prabowo returned to Jakarta and later met with the head of his campaign team Sandiaga Uno, who is also the deputy chairman of Gerindra’s Advisory Council and the vice governor of Jakarta.
Anti-Jokowi Campaign Begins
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s political rivals have ramped up their efforts in campaigning against the President. Their most recent effort is the launch of the so-called #2019GantiPresiden movement. The event was held on Sunday (May 6) on the south side of the National Monument (Monas), just a few hundred meters from the State Palace Jakarta on Sunday (May 6). The movement was initially launched in social media platforms, but it now it has perhaps entered the next phase of its campaign plan.
Jokowi’s China Dilemma (4)
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is scheduled to meet the visiting China prime minister Li Keqiang at the Bogor Palace, West Java today. PM Li is also set to meet VP Jusuf Kalla later today. The visit from PM Li might be exploited by Jokowi’s opponents to pump more of anti-China and anti-communism sentiments played against the president in the past few years.
The 2019 Race: Political Breakups (3)
Darmizal, who is known as one of the co-founders of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, resigned from his position in the party to establish the so-called Relawan Jokowi (Rejo), a new group of volunteers created for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s reelection. Darmizal is not alone as he brought with him the other co-founders of the Democratic Party and a number of the Party’s elites to join Rejo.
Amin Santono’s Political Dynasty Falls Apart
Talking about political dynasties in Indonesia, it’s not only about Indonesia’s sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who continues to push his son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to be the next leader. Amin Santono, lawmaker at the House Commission XI from SBY’s Democratic Party, followed his boss. But, like some, his dream falls a part because the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested him and eight others in a corruption case last night.
Jokowi’s Electability & Running Mate Talks
Polling agency Indikator Politik Indonesia published the result of their most recent survey on May 3. Among their findings is the electability of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at 60%, far ahead of Prabowo Subianto’s electability (29%) in a head-to-head scenario. Compared to Indikator’s previous survey back in September 2017, Jokowi’s electability has gone up whereas Prabowo’s electability has gone down—Jokowi’s electability was 58.9%, and Prabowo’s 31.3%.