Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has rejected a challenge to its contentious ruling that paved the way for the son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to run as a vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming general election. As BenarNews reported, the eight-judge panel unanimously dismissed the petition, which argued that the court’s original ruling violated the Indonesian constitution. … Read more
Campaigning has officially begun for Indonesia’s presidential election, with two of the three candidates launching national campaign tours that will see them criss-cross the archipelago during the 75-day campaign period. Yesterday’s campaign launches initiate a downhill run until polling day on February 14, when up to 204 million people will be eligible to cast a … Read more
On October 16, with the bang of a gavel, Chief Justice Anwar Usman, the former head of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court, ignited a firestorm deep within the heart of Indonesian law. Chief Justice Usman, who sat cloaked in a crimson robe alongside a panel of eight other Constitutional Court judges, was presiding over seven judicial review … Read more
In the latest batch of opinion polling on Indonesia’s upcoming election, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has opened up a significant lead over his closest rivals ahead of the opening of the official campaign period. In the latest poll by Indikator Politik Indonesia, released on Sunday, Prabowo was the preferred selection of 40.6 percent of respondents, … Read more
As the political horizon of Indonesia’s 2024 election emerges, the stage is set for a confrontation that mirrors the epic Bharatayudha, not in terms of physical conflict but as a battle for the soul and direction of a nation’s leadership. “Bharatayudha,” the Javanese adaptation of the Indian Mahabharata epic, symbolizes a “total war” – an … Read more
Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and his vice presidential running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, on a campaign poster produced by Partai Gelora Indonesia. Credit: Partai Gelora Indonesia The chief justice of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court was dismissed from his post after an ethics council yesterday found him guilty of committing a “serious … Read more
The impulse for building a political dynasty can be strong, especially in authoritarian states and even more so in dictatorships. In a dictatorship where power is concentrated in one individual or clan, such as the Kim family in North Korea, a leader invariably puts a premium on loyalty and hence places trusted family members in … Read more
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second from left) has lunch with presidential candidates (from left) Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, and Anies Baswedan at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 30, 2023. Credit: Facebook/Presiden Joko Widodo Advertisement Two of Indonesia’s three presidential candidates have called on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to remain neutral in the run-up … Read more
ASEAN Beat | Politics | Southeast Asia Complainants allege that last week’s ruling, which paved the way for President Joko Widodo’s 36-year-old son to run in next year’s election, was politically motivated. Advertisement Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has set up a panel to investigate accusations of bias and nepotism against itself, after a court ruling that allowed President Joko “Jokowi” … Read more
Advertisement One aspect of Indonesian politics that baffles both foreign and domestic observers is its enduring political stability. Some critics assert that this stability rests on a fragile, illiberal democratic foundation. However, others openly commend the country for its improbable resilience, especially in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1998. One political scientist, … Read more