A twist in Indonesia’s presidential election does not bode well for the country’s fragile democracy
2024 Indonesian Elections, Law, PoliticsOn Valentine’s Day next year, Indonesia will go to the polls for its most important election in ten years.After months of uncertainty, Jokowi and his circle have come out strongly in support for Prabowo, with Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, announced as his vice presidential running mate in recent days.
Another BRIC in the wall? Indonesia’s BRICS dilemma
Foreign Policy, PoliticsOn August 2023, President Widodo attended the 15th annual BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in Indonesia’s capacity as ASEAN Chair. Indonesia will remain outside BRICS for the time being. But big questions remain. Will Indonesia will join the bloc in the future? And does Indonesia share BRICS’ enthusiasm for challenging Western dominance of the international order?
The Anies-Muhaimin Candidacy: mutual desperation or marriage of convenience?
2024 Indonesian Elections, PoliticsThe Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar candidacy for the upcoming 2024 presidential election stitches together a disparate patchwork of ideological and religious interests. Virdika Rizky Utama dissects how this announcement impacts the political calculus in 2024.
2024 elections: the third candidate, Anies Baswedan
2024 Indonesian Elections, Elections, PoliticsRecent opinion polls indicate Anies Baswedan is unlikely to make the run-off in the 2024 presidential elections. But, regardless, he seems determined to stay in the running. Helen Pausacker explores who is Anies Baswedan, and why is he so determined to stay in the race?
Talking Indonesia: democracy under threat
Law, Politics, Talking IndonesiaWith the elections set to deliver a new government and new president next year, what must be done to halt further damage to Indonesia’s democracy and rule of law? What are the risks if it fails to do so? In this week's episode Jemma Purdey chats with Professor Jimly Asshiddiqie, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Indonesia and a member of Indonesia’s senate, the Regional Representatives Assembly.
The fight for Nahdlatul Ulama in 2024
2024 Indonesian Elections, Politics, ReligionAs Indonesia prepares for the 2024 general elections, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) – the nation's largest religious organisation – finds itself in at the centre of a political tug of war as presidential candidates and political parties actively jostle for its endorsement. NU’s leaders need to keep in mind that competition for NU’s endorsement has the potential to influence not only the country's political landscape, but also the organisation itself.
The Hunger Games: Indonesia’s problematic electoral system will continue in 2024
2024 Indonesian Elections, Law, Politics, Top StoriesElectoral processes are inherently competitive. But can a democratic system be too competitive? Indonesia’s current open list electoral system not only requires candidates to compete against candidates from different political parties – but also those from their own party.
Who is Ganjar Pranowo?
2024 Indonesian Elections, PoliticsMegawati Soekarnoputri and Joko Widodo were both present at the announcement of Ganjar Pranowo's presidential candidacy on 21 April. But that doesn't mean the PDI-P team are united.
Islam and the 2024 presidential election: moving towards a consensus candidate?
2024 Indonesian Elections, Politics, ReligionThe Defending Islam rallies in 2016 and 2017 and the very polarising Indonesian presidential election of 2019 suggest the role of Islam in the 2024 election will be more significant than ever. But how will Muslims vote on election day?