Syahrul Yasin Limpo, a politician from NasDem Party, who is minister of agriculture, supposedly arrived from a FAO meeting in Rome, Italy on Sunday (Oct 1) evening. He didn’t. NasDem treasurer Ahmad Sahroni then came out saying Syahrul extended his stay in Spain for a prostate treatment. The minister, at the heart of a corruption investigation at ministry of agriculture, finally arrived home Wednesday (Oct 4) evening reportedly after three days of stay in Singapore.

Today, Oct. 5, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is celebrating its 78th anniversary. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is leading the celebration of the TNI’s anniversary event at the National Monument (Monas) compound. The current Military Commander (Panglima TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono, however, will enter his mandatory retirement age next month along with the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman, which leads us to a question of the upcoming military succession.

The tension is flaring up between the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU). PKB, as we all know, is an Islamic party strongly affiliated to the NU, the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia. If the tension continues, the question is, will it affect PKB’s performance, and, accordingly their president candidate Anies Baswedan, in 2024 elections? Can PKB maintain the votes from the NU supporters?

“More dramas to come, so don’t be rushing making decision,” said President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to leaders of small party PSI few weeks back. As of today, seems like that there will be a three-horse race, but one should anticipate possible two-horse race. But, let’s see political implication of Syahrul Yasin Limpo, a politician from NasDem Party, being named corruption suspect.

Some major pollsters recently released the results of its electability survey on the three presidential candidates that will compete in the 2024 presidential race. Question about reliability aside, the survey results are still worth highlighting because it gives us a picture of the political map of the three presidential candidates. 

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday (Oct. 2). The meeting is worth highlighting in light of the 2024 race and the rumor of cabinet reshuffle. 

There are no surprises in the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the ruling party PDIP that has been closed on Sunday (Sep. 1). The fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the chairperson of PDIP, didn’t announce the running mate of Ganjar Pranowo. However, it is now clear that Megawati shut down the idea of Ganjar becoming Prabowo Subianto’s running mate.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in a calm manner, briefly responded to Anies Baswedan’s criticism over the national strategic projects under his administration. The President’s response is worth highlighting in light of the 2024 presidential race, in which Anies will compete against Ganjar Pranowo (PDIP) and Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra).

On Thursday (Sep. 28), Prabowo Subianto attended the 76th birthday anniversary of the Coordinating Minister of Maritime & Investment General (ret) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is a senior politician from Golkar Party. Ganjar Pranowo, meanwhile, recently got the support from Pro-Jokowi (Projo), one of the largest volunteer groups of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. In the meantime, Anies Baswedan and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar met with Rizieq Shihab, the supreme leader of the disbanded hardline muslim group FPI, before making a political safari in East Java.