Kalla’s Recent Meetings
Vice President Jusuf Kalla recently met with high-profile figures, such as the Chairman of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, who is also the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), and the Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. But what’s the most interesting is a report saying that Kalla and former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who is now the chairman of the Democratic Party, will soon meet to discuss about, among others, the 2019 race.
The Regional Election Battlefields in Java
Java is the most important island in the country’s election because around 60% of the country’ voters live there. This year, the three largest provinces in Java, are participating in the simultaneous regional elections. The research section (Litbang) of Kompas, the biggest newspaper in the country, has released their most recent polling result on the gubernatorial race in Central Java and East Java. Two other polling agencies—Cyrus Network and Indonesia Strategic Institute (Instrat)—previously released their polling result on the race in West Java.
Update on the E-KTP Graft Case
The Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court held the latest hearing of graft suspect Setya Novanto on March 12, 2018. It has been three months now after the court began the trial, but the case is so complicated that the prosecutors kept summoning more witnesses to testify. For the latest hearing, the prosecutors summoned several witnesses and an expert witness who said that the layered money trails in the case were indications of a planned money laundering scheme.
Corruption Journal
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reportedly conducted another Sting Operation in the evening of March 12, 2018. Several people were taken into custody, including a registrar and a judge of the Tangerang District Court in Banten. This is the first Sting Operation conducted this year to have targeted law enforcers from the judicial institution. Separately, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court read their verdict for the defendant Tarmizi, the former registrar of the South Jakarta District Court who caught for receiving bribes.
The 2019 Race: Jokowi and Romy
National media outlets have been highlighting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s interactions with the Chairman of PPP Muhammad Romahurmuziy a.k.a Romy. Some even wonder if the increased visibility of the pair is a sign of the President considering Romy as a running mate.
The 2019 Race: Prabowo
The 34 provincial chapters (DPD) of Gerindra Party have declared Prabowo Subianto as their presidential candidate for 2019. Prior to that, all of Gerindra’s central executive board (DPP) leaders gave the assurance that Prabowo will run for office. But despite all of that move, Prabowo has remained silent. Why is that?
The 2019 Race: Tommy Soeharto & the Berkarya Party
Hutomo Mandala Putra a.k.a Tommy Soeharto is no longer as powerful as when he was under the care of his late father Soeharto. Nevertheless, Tommy remains an interesting figure to watch, especially, after the General Election Commission (KPU) named his Berkarya Party as one of the contestants in the 2019 simultaneous legislative and presidential elections.
The 2019 Race: Will Jokowi Form An Alliance with SBY?
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attended the Democratic Party’s National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) over the weekend. The President, and the Democratic Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) gave a speech to open the event. In his speech, SBY said that he’d be happy to have the Democratic Party working together with Jokowi in the 2019 presidential race. Will an alliance follow?
Job Rotation at the National Police
The Chief of the National Police (POLRI) General Tito Karnavian made another job rotation in the Police Corps. This time 11 high-ranking officers were affected, including the police chiefs in Maluku and Southeast Sulawesi, the two provinces that will hold a gubernatorial election this year. Another interesting promotion is the change of leadership in the Police’s Cyber Crime Unit.
The 2019 Race: New Axis Talk Continues
The Democratic Party held a meeting with PAN and PKB on Thursday (March 8) to discuss about the possibility of forming a new axis and to nominate a third pair of president and vice president candidates to challenge President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. Will we see this axis established?