Things are getting ugly. Hasto Kristiyanto came out with a strong criticism about the implementation of food estate program that he called as a part of environmental crime. The criticism is worth highlighting because it came from the secretary general of the ruling party PDIP. Hasto might have intended to address his criticism to those handling the food estate program, but the criticism might ruin President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration, and it could give the opposition a new ammunition to attack the President.

Bongbong Marcos won last year’s election in the Philippines after picking Sara Duterte, daughter of the controversial but popular outgoing president Duterte, as vice president candidate. Some see similarities of strategy from Prabowo Subianto, who increasingly relies on endorsement from president Jokowi and even seriously considering Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming a running mate in next year’s election.

Amien Rais, patron leader of Ummat Party (new contestant in next year’s legislative election, consisted of mostly former politicians from National Mandate Party/PAN), said that he might move to Prabowo’s camp if Anies Baswedan failed to enter the 2024 presidential election. Fahri Hamzah, former leader of Islamic party PKS, who is now deputy chairman of Gelora Party (former members of PKS), also said that the party will soon announce support for Prabowo.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is a presidential candidate from the ruling party PDIP, recently met with Yenny Wahid, daughter of the late fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid a.k.a Gus Dur, and her mother, Sinta Nuriyah. The meeting is worth highlighting in light of the next year’s presidential election because Gus Dur’s family still has the influence within the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and perhaps PKB, which is now a member of Prabowo Subianto’s camp.

It is now six months to the election day, and Prabowo Subianto is still leading the poll. A new survey from LSI Denny JA found that Prabowo led with almost 3 percent margin above Ganjar Pranowo. Anies Baswedan, meanwhile, is falling further behind. Can Ganjar or even Anies catch up with Prabowo? The running mate could be the answer.

The ruling party PDIP is still confident with Ganjar Pranowo’s chance at winning the next year’s presidential election even though Prabowo Subianto is now having the largest coalition following the joining of Golkar and PAN. PDIP compared the current situation to the 2014 presidential election when President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo won his first term after defeating Prabowo with a smaller coalition. The thing is, however, today’s situation is different compared to 2014.

Prabowo Subianto, a presidential candidate from Gerindra Party, continues to approach the family and the supporters of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo with the 2024 presidential election on the horizon. Lately, Prabowo was accompanied by the President’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also the mayor of Solo, during an event in Solo, Central Java on Thursday (Aug 10). Prabowo, as we all know, is seriously considering Gibran to become his running mate.

The leadership dispute within the Democratic Party has ended following the Supreme Court’s (MA) ruling that rejected a case review filed by former Military Commander (Panglima TNI) General (ret) Moeldoko, who is now the chief of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP). With the ruling, the Democratic Party will remain to be led by Major (ret) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the eldest son of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). What’s next for AHY and Moeldoko?