The Constitutional Court (MK) is now handling another judicial review request that once again attempts to amend the retirement age of military officers. The request has been filed by a number of active and retired military officers, including Rear Admiral Kresno Buntoro, the head of the Indonesian Military’s Legal Division (Kababinkum TNI). This legal battle is worth highlighting because the current Military Commander (Panglima TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono will soon enter his mandatory retirement age by November 2023.

Ganjar Pranowo met with Mahfud MD on Sunday (Sep. 10). The meeting is worth highlighting because Mahfud, the coordinating minister for politics, law & security affairs, has been mentioned as one of the potential running mate candidates for Ganjar, a presidential hopeful from the ruling party PDIP.

The General Election Commission (KPU) proposes to bring forward the registration of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for 2024 presidential election from Oct. 19 to Oct. 10, 2023. If the proposal is accepted by both the Central Government and the House of Representatives (DPR), then we’re only a month away from the registration of presidential pairings.

Vice President (VP) Ma’ruf Amin criticized Ridwan Kamil, who has just ended his term as governor of West Java, for being too busy with 2024 affairs. This is the second time the VP made similar criticism towards Ridwan in the last few days. Why? Who is the VP endorsing in the next year’s presidential election?

Everybody is waiting for the decision from Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairperson of the ruling party PDIP, on who will become Ganjar Pranowo’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. PDIP, as we all know, earlier stated that Megawati will announce Ganjar’s running mate this month. Her decision might determine whether the 2024 race will turn into a three-horse or even a four-horse race.

Prabowo Subianto met with Yenny Wahid, the daughter of the late President Abdurrahman Wahid a.k.a Gus Dur on Wednesday (Sep. 6). Yenny is also known as a female leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Many believe that the meeting with Yenny is Prabowo’s way to regain support from the NU, the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, after the departure of Muhaimin Iskandar and PKB from his coalition.

The ruling party PDIP mentioned former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, who is also a politician from Golkar Party, as one of potential running mate candidates for Ganjar Pranowo. Ridwan himself said that he can help Ganjar gain more votes in West Java, the province many predict that Ganjar will be struggling the most in 2024 race. Will Ganjar run together with Ridwan? Will Golkar jump ship from Prabowo Subianto’s coalition to PDIP’s camp if Ridwan becomes Ganjar’s running mate?

The dynamics within the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, is truly worth highlighting with the election year approaching. Recently, Yahya Cholil Staquf a.k.a Gus Yahya, the Chairman of the NU’s Central Board (PBNU), met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace Jakarta on Monday (Sep. 4) night. On the same day, Gus Yahya’s younger brother, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas a.k.a Gus Yaqut, who is also the minister of religious affairs under Jokowi’s administration, earlier made a statement in regard to the next year’s presidential election.

General (ret) AM Hendropriyono, former chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), accompanied Prabowo Subianto during the latter’s visit in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Tuesday (Sep. 5). The presence of Hendropriyono is worth highlighting because his son-in-law, former Military Commander (Panglima TNI) General (ret) Andika Perkasa, is supporting Ganjar Pranowo.