STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has received his fair share of both praise and criticism during his five years in office. He has made some notable changes and improvements to Indonesia’s capital, but despite his best efforts, some problems persist.
A recent survey conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), published earlier this month, revealed that 51 percent of respondents familiar with the issue — comprising researchers, lecturers, bureaucrats, and councilors — were not satisfied with Anies’ performance as governor.
Several indicators received low satisfaction scores from the surveyed observers, including employment, environment, and housing crisis issues. On the other hand, they believed Anies has done well in increasing living wages in the capital and improving the city’s transportation system.
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri has asked her party members to wait as she calculates her final decision on its presidential nomination to bag another victory in the upcoming elections.
“Have a little patience. We still have two years on. I am allowed to keep it to myself, am I not?” Megawati told the cadres with a smirk at her speed in closing the party’s national meeting on Thursday.
“I, as the chairwoman, have to calculate. My calculations aren’t finished yet,” the party leader said, accompanied by her daughter House Speaker Puan Maharani and son Prananda Prabowo.
House Speaker Puan Maharani on Saturday said she received a special task from her mother and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri to meet with the leaders of political parties.
Puan said the meeting was to explore political relations, and the possibility of a coalition ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Puan did not specify when and where the meeting would be held as she said it was “only a matter of time.”
Projo, a seven-million-strong volunteer group aligned with President Jokowi, has dampened speculation that it will become a political party, but said it will back a candidate who will further the President’s legacy when his term ends in 2024.
In an interview with The Straits Times, Projo Chair Budi Arie Setiadi said that while the group has sufficient resources to form a party, it can better focus on “nationhood and the people’s agenda” if it does not have to worry about staying in power as a political party.
Budi said that Projo has yet to pick a presidential candidate to support, and will rely on the result of a “democratic, open and transparent” multi-stakeholder consultation process that it will conduct across Indonesia’s 34 provinces from July to March next year.
The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) announced mid-week their coalition for the 2024 elections, called the Great Awakening Alliance (KIR). With 24.7% of seats in parliament (13.6% from Gerindra and 10.1% from PKB), KIR meets the 20% seat threshold for parties or coalitions wanting to field candidates in 2024.
Should this alliance hold, it will likely nominate Gerindra leader Prabowo Subianto for the presidency PKB chair Muhaimin Iskandar for the vice-presidency. PKB is Islamic-oriented and draws much of its support from the moderate and pluralist Islamic social organization Nahdlatul Ulama.
The creation of KIR appears to be a reaction to the emergence of the United Indonesia Alliance (KIB) that President Joko Widodo is cobbling together to support the candidacy of Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo.
As we stated in an earlier note, three parties with a total 28% of parliamentary seats are forming KIB: Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the United Development Party. Widodo’s mini-reshuffle last week, bringing into his cabinet PAN’s Zulkifli Hasan as trade minister, is a step towards this goal.
Democratic Party Chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono on Thursday met with National Democratic (NasDem) Party Chair Surya Paloh in Jakarta as part of his ‘political safari’ ahead of the 2024 elections. Agus said while both parties are open to collaboration, the meeting did not discuss whether they would form a coalition.
Democratic Party Chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) on Friday visited the residence of Gerindra Party Chair Prabowo Subianto in South Jakarta. AHY said that he and Prabowo discussed the latest global issues and the world’s challenges in the post-pandemic economy. AHY also said he wanted to always establish good communication with Prabowo, working together to bring solutions for the country.
National Awakening Party (PKB) Chair Muhaimin Iskandar on Saturday said the coalition between his party and Gerindra is just waiting for a declaration. He said the coalition plan to be built with Prabowo Subianto’s party is solid, but it still opens up opportunities for other parties to join.
Gerindra Party Chair Prabowo Subianto remains most electable 2024 presidential candidate, ahead of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, according to results of a recent polling survey by Indonesia Polling Station (IPS) released on Monday. The polling also showed that Prabowo would get twice as many votes if he competed with only Ganjar Pranowo.
Gerindra Party Chair Sufmi Dasco Ahmad on Sunday said he appreciated Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) plan to pay courtesy calls on other political parties ahead of the 2024 elections.
Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Jokowi, looks increasingly likely to get the nod from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to run for Jakarta governor in 2024.
Senior PDI-P politician Eriko Sotarduga on Saturday said internal support had been growing for Gibran, who entered politics a few years ago, or Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini to receive the party’s nomination for the governorship.
Meanwhile, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) researcher Noory Okthariza said it was probably too early for the 34-year-old mayor to enter a Jakarta gubernatorial race, particularly because of his lack of experience compared to other likely candidates.
With more than a year and a half to go before February 2024 general elections, Indonesia’s political parties are jockeying to form coalitions to nominate presidential candidates to replace Joko Widodo, who has held office since 2014 and who is the subject of speculation that his popularity could make him a candidate for a third term.
Indonesians, however, are generally wary of extending the president’s term despite his considerable popularity out of unappetizing remembrance of the New Order government headed by the late strongman Suharto, who ruled for 34 years amid deepening corruption and stagnation.
Jokowi has told his ministers they should focus on work instead of speculating on extending the presidential term. He recently announced that elections would be held on February 14, 2024.
Former general and defence minister Prabowo Subianto, who has run three times unsuccessfully, is trying again, reportedly with his Gerindra Party in a coalition with the Islamist National Awakening Party.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan have been widely mentioned as potential candidates. In the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) survey, for example, 22.5 percent picked Ganjar, followed by Prabowo at 17.5 percent, with Anies with 13.2 percent (Red/many sources).
