Cash-rich people & 2024 elections (1)
Cash is King. So, the real king makers for president and vice president plus lawmakers in 2024 elections are business people with strong cash in hands. It is almost certain that politicians go to these guys to get funding for the costly elections. According to Muhaimin Iskandar, vice president candidate for Anies Baswedan, one lawmaker candidate needs up to Rp40 billion or US$2.5 billion to get the seat.
The New Deputy Chief of BIN
The latest job rotation instituted by the Military Commander (Panglima TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono is truly worth highlighting in light of 2024 elections. In this rotation, Lt. Gen. I Nyoman Cantiasa has been appointed as the new deputy chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). Let’s talk a bit about his appointment.
Megawati’s Speech
After weeks of silence, PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri finally spoke about her concern for the country’s democracy following what happened at the Constitutional Court (MK). Many believe that Megawati’s statement is a strong criticism towards President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. She reminded people not to let election frauds happen in 2024 race.
U-17 World Cup Begins
Today, Nov. 10, the FIFA U-17 World Cup will begin. The opening ceremony of U-17 World Cup will be held at the Gelora Bung Tomo (GBT) Stadium in Surabaya (East Java) this afternoon, which will be followed immediately with the first match between Indonesia and Ecuador. After all these tensions and dramas surrounding the 2024 presidential race, the U-17 World Cup could be a perfect opportunity for us to relax and take time to enjoy exciting football matches.
Political Outlook
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo talked about his neutrality in the presidential election in February 2024. Most people, however, do not believe in what he said because the president frequently campaigned indirectly for Prabowo Subianto, who runs with Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming in the race.
The New MK Chief Justice
Suhartoyo has been elected by consensus as the new chief justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) replacing Anwar Usman, who has been dismissed due to heavy ethics violations. Suhartoyo’s election is truly worth highlighting in relation to the 2024 simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, given his track record of having dissenting opinion in some crucial issues, including the presidential age limit and the presidential threshold.
Key Battleground Provinces: Central Java
People were not excited with the competition between presidential candidates in Central Java, the third largest province in Indonesia, in the last two presidential elections because the province is known as ‘Kandang Banteng’, home to the supporters of the ruling party PDIP. Indeed, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who was nominated by PDIP, won Central Java by a landslide in the last two presidential elections. This time, the competition among presidential candidates, especially between Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto, in Central Java might be more exciting to watch following the separation of Jokowi and PDIP and the entrance of Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, in the 2024 presidential race.
The Army Chief Race
General Agus Subiyanto, the current Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), will soon undergo a fit and proper test at the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I as the sole candidate of Military Commander (Panglima TNI). Most political parties at the House Commission I will likely accept Agus Subiyanto’s nomination to replace the current Military Commander Admiral Yudo Margono, who will enter his mandatory retirement age. The question is, who will become the next Army Chief?
Prabowo-Gibran Campaign Team (2)
Other than retired generals, seasoned politicians, and Jokowi volunteers-cum-commissioner of state-owned companies, the campaign team of Prabowo-Gibran is filled by some businessmen. Pandu Sjahrir, nephew of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, and his mother Kartini Sjahrir (commissioner in some companies controlled by Lippo Group), are among names from the business community in the list.
Key Battleground Provinces: East Java
East Java, the second largest province in Indonesia, can be the most crucial and important battleground in the 2024 presidential race because no one is really dominant in the province as it stands. The competition, especially between Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is still quite tight in East Java.