TheJakartaPost

Election debates spawn memes from candidates, audience

Beyond the mission statements that the presidential and VP candidates brought to the stage, the first two election debates were also breeding grounds for memes. ...

2 years ago

Anies-Muhaimin campaign spokesman arrested for tax embezzlement

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan said he respected the legal process and reiterated that everyone was equal before the law. ...

2 years ago

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Workers sort and fold ballots for the 2024 legislative election on Dec. 13, 2023, in Denpasar, Bali.

Legislative Race premium

Legislative race a toss-up between PDI-P, Gerindra

The February legislative race remains a toss-up between the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and its staunch rival Gerindra Party, which has forged closer ties to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, surveys show, as they compete to dominate the House of Representatives after Jokowi’s tenure ends.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidates Muhaimin Iskandar (right), Gibran Rakabuming Raka (center) and Mahfud MD attend the televised second 2024 election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2023. The debate covered issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

KPU to allow debate moderators clear up candidates’ questions

Future debates for the 2024 presidential election will allow moderators to elaborate on unclear questions from candidates, continue the use of podiums for candidates and introduce fixed microphones on each podium.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo speaks during the first presidential election debate at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 2023.

Ganjar proposes expanding tobacco downstream research

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo said that, as a leading commodity in Indonesia, tobacco should receive the government’s attention.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan (right) greets women of the Extended Family of the Assembly of Muslim Students’ (KB HMI) during an event declaring support for Anies’ election ticket in Jakarta, on Dec. 27, 2023.

Anies wants to raise taxes for Indonesia’s wealthiest people

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan said the assets of the 100 wealthiest people in Indonesia were greater than the assets owned by 100 million Indonesians

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (third left) looks through the merchandise being peddled by local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the Warung Kopi Aming cafe in Pontianak, West Kalimantan on Dec. 17, 2023, on the sidelines of a meet and greet with creative economy practitioners from the region. Besides canvassing ideas for developing the local creative economy sector, Gibran spoke about the Nusantara capital city development.

Gibran responds to '#SoloBukanGibran' banner in Surakarta

The banner, in an apparent rejection of Gibran, had been displayed for several days before being taken down.

2 years ago

Motorized vehicles pass under a pedestrian bridge that has been completely covered by 2024 election banners, as the campaigning season approaches its second month in Jakarta on Dec. 27, 2023.

Presidential race remains competitive

The 2024 presidential race is still no runaway victory, opinion surveys show, even as candidate Prabowo Subianto maintains his lead over competitors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, meaning the frontrunner could well face a runoff against either of his rivals.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan speaks during the first presidential election debate at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 2023.

Anies to reallocate Nusantara funds to repair roads, schools in Kalimantan

Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan said repairing roads and schools in Kalimantan is more urgent than building a new capital.

2 years ago

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan (right) embraces Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, who is also his son-in-law, following the latter's inauguration as Army chief of staff at the State Palace in Jakarta on Nov. 29, 2023. Luhut made his first public appearance since his extended sick leave to congratulate his son-in-law for realizing his own dream to become Army chief of staff.

Jokowi wants to link successor to key partners, Luhut says

Senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan said that President Jokowi was prepared to link his successor with other world leaders like Saudi Arabia’s ruler Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

2 years ago

Congregation members take selfies with a Christmas tree before Christmas mass at the St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, popularly known as the Jakarta Cathedral, in Jakarta on Dec. 25, 2023.

Presidential contenders join Christmas festivities

The nation’s presidential candidates and their running mates spent time over the Christmas holiday visiting churches to promote religious tolerance and in an effort to make themselves more appealing to Christian voters.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo (second right) talks with a resident in Bojasari village, Wonosobo regency, Central Java on Dec. 18, 2023. In his campaign trail in the regency, Ganjar opted to stay for a night in a resident's house.

Ganjar proposes '1 undergraduate for 1 poor family'

The expansion of education access is expected to give the children of poor families a decent education to improve their welfare.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto speaks during the first presidential election debate at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 2023.

Prabowo joins SBY to commemorate Aceh tsunami tragedy

The 2004 tsunami, which happened only a few months after SBY's inauguration, was one of the country's worst natural disasters, claiming more than 220,000 lives and destroying a major part of the province.

2 years ago

A street food vendor passes by a poster of the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates in Jakarta on Dec. 20, 2023.

Candidates seek to shore up stronghold provinces

Presidential contenders also sought to woo new demographics in order to garner more votes to secure a position in the likely runoff.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka raises his hands during the second 2024 election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2023.

Prabowo, Gibran to woo female voters with targeted policies

Candidate pair Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka will target female voters in the 2024 election, including by addressing stunting and empowering MSMEs.

2 years ago

Supporters wave and take photos of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on Dec. 17, 2023 as he stands in the open sunroof of a car while en route to visit the grave of first president Sukarno in Blitar, East Java, a key battleground province in Indonesian elections.

Police probe nonfatal shooting of Prabowo campaign volunteer in Madura

Local police are investigating a shooting of a 49-year-old volunteer with the Prabowo campaign, who is said to be stabilizing in a Surabaya hospital after he was shot by two unidentified gunmen last Thursday in Madura.

2 years ago

University students hold a rally at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Dec. 21, 2023. The protesters called for the 2024 elections to be held peacefully and ethically.

Controversial campaign remarks cause backlash, protests

From Muslims altering prayers to wives causing as corruption and Bekasi people's "thin wallets", candidates and supporters are being called on to apologize for their contentious statements on the campaign trail.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar prepares to demonstrate 'slepet' (whacking) with his sarong during the second 2024 election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2023.

Post-debate, Muhaimin speaks of ‘slepet’ and other jargon

Vice-presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar talked about the importance of slepet and addressed jargon that was used against him during the debate.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo (left) and running mate Mahfud MD arrives at the Jakarta Convention Center ahead of the second 2024 election debate on Dec. 22, 2023. The debate covered issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

Ganjar-Mahfud offers 'KTP Sakti" as major program

The KTP Sakti or invincible ID card program will merge all existing social assistance cards created by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD speaks during the second 2024 election debate at Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2023. The debate covered issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

Mahfud skips Nusa Tenggara campaign events, citing exhaustion

Vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD canceled his campaign trip to Mataram City in West Nusa Tenggara on Monday due to exhaustion, his spokesperson has said.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar speaks during the second 2024 election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 22, 2023. The debate covered issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

Muhaimin promises to increase state budget allocation for R&D

Indonesia's state budget allocation for research has continued to decline, reaching Rp 2.2 trillion (US$142 million), or only 0.01 percent of GDP.

2 years ago

(From left to right) Vice presidential candidates Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Mahfud MD hold hands on Dec. 22, 2023, after the second 2024 election debate at the Jakarta Convention Center. The debate covered issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

Gibran steals spotlight as rivals hold back in VP debate

Analysts have praised Gibran Rakabuming Raka's performance during the first vice presidential debate, as he was able to hold his ground and throw jabs at more seasoned rivals Mahfud MD and Muhaimin Iskandar.

2 years ago

General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Hasyim Asy'ari delivers an opening speech on Dec. 12, 2023 at the first presidential debate at the KPU’s Jakarta headquarters.

KPU chief rebuffs allegations of bias during VP debate

The head of the General Elections Commission (KPU) has refuted Roy Suryo’s suggestion that an earpiece had been used by one of the vice-presidential candidates at the most recent televised debate.

2 years ago

Vice presidential candidates Muhaimin Iskandar (left), Gibran Rakabuming Raka (center) and Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin attend a televised debate at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, December 22, 2023.

Gibran defends his father’s policies

Analysts say President’s son was "assertive" despite making "incorrect answers".

2 years ago

LIVE BLOG: 2024 Election Debate: Round 2

Indonesia's vice presidential candidates will face each other in the second debate tonight to tackle issues related to the economy, finance, tax, investment, trade and infrastructure.

2 years ago

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo (center) greets Muhaimin Iskandar (second right), the running mate of presidential candidate Anies Baswedan (right), surrounded by (from left) his running mate Mahfud MD, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Prabowo’s running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, before the inaugural presidential debate on Dec. 12 at the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta.

Prabowo leads initial campaign finance data with $2 million

The KPU's campaign finance data show that Prabowo is leading with Rp 31.4 billion (US$2 million) in funds raised by the start of the campaign season, followed by Ganjar with Rp 23.3 billion and Anies bringing in the rear with a paltry Rp 1 billion in only personal funds.

2 years ago