2019 Race: Jokowi & SBY’s Democratic Party
A month has passed after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) gave good signs on their possible alliance at the latter’s Democratic Party national leadership meeting (Rapimnas) event. And yet, we have not heard of any good news since then.
Bracing for More Islam Politics
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo had a busy schedule Tuesday (Apr 17). Upon inspecting construction progress of Kertajati international airport in Majalengka, West Java province, Jokowi paid a visit to the office of West Java chapter of Indonesian Council of Ulemma (MUI) in Bandung, the capital city of the province, where he lost with huge margin from Prabowo Subianto in 2014 election.
Corruption Journal: Back-to-Back Examinations
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have proven their commitment to working hard. Over the past two weeks, the KPK has continued to examine witnesses who are considered acquainted with the details of several corruption cases, among which are the case that brought down the Governor of Jambi Zumi Zola, corruption in Garuda Indonesia, and Gatot Pujo Nugroho’s graft case.
2019 Race: Gatot’s Latest Move (2)
After returning from his Europe trip, the former Military (TNI) Commander Gatot Nurmantyo attended the anniversary of the Army’s Special Forces Kopassus in Cijantung, East Jakarta, on Monday (April 16). Gatot was seen seated next to the Chairman of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, who is also a former commander (Danjen) of the Kopassus.
The 2019 Race: Jokowi’s Chess Game
Statements made by members of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s ruling coalition—particularly those from PDIP and PPP—suggest that the idea of pairing the President with Prabowo Subianto is still being discussed. The rise of alternative figures like the former Military (TNI) Commander Gatot Nurmantyo, however, ought to push them towards reviewing their options.
The 2019 Race: Gatot’s Latest Move
The former Military (TNI) Commander Gatot Nurmantyo is reportedly still somewhere in Europe. And yet in the past few days we’ve seen three groups of volunteers declaring their endorsement of Gatot as a presidential candidate. Several of them would like to see Gatot paired with the Chairman of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar a.k.a Cak Imin.
Nindya Karya’s Woes
In 2016, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) successfully cooperated with the Supreme Court and ratified the Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) No. 3/2016 on the procedures for examining cases involving corporations. In 2017 the KPK named the first corporation suspect: PT Duta Graha Indah or DGI (now PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring Tbk) in relation to allegations of graft in the construction of the South Sumatera Provincial Multipurpose Building (2010-2011). On April 13, 2018, the KPK again named corporate suspects, i.e., a local construction company from Aceh PT Tuah Sejati and the State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) PT Nindya Karya (Persero). The two companies allegedly conspired in a graft scheme for the construction of the Sabang unloading port.
The 2019 Race: Jokowi and Romy
After visiting Papua, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo went to Semarang (Central Java) to attend the PPP’s clerics’ congress (Munas Alim Ulama). In the event, the Chairman of the PPP Romahurmuziy a.k.a Romy revealed some interesting insight into President Jokowi and the 2019 presidential race.
Regional Election: Back to the Dark Ages
Political parties have once more proposed the abandonment of direct election of regional leaders, in favor of election of regional leaders by way of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD). Three political parties in the House of Representatives (DPR) firmly endorse the idea, they are Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party, PAN, and PKB. Combined they control 30.1% of the seats in the DPR. The aforementioned parties tried to endorse the same idea back in 2010 and then 2014, but they failed. Will they succeed this time?
Papua & Jokowi’s 2019
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is visiting Papua. On the first day of his visit, the President visited the Asmat regency. President Jokowi and his entourage arrived on Thursday (April 12) noon. Among them were the elders of Asmat who awarded Jokowi with a tribe name and the title of Kambepit and the warlord of Asmat. The President is the first President of the Republic to have ever visited the Asmat regency.