President Prabowo Subianto has spent his first year in office consolidating power, expanding an already bloated cabinet, redrawing the political map and strengthening the military’s role in civilian government, further tightening his grip on power.

Criticism has centered around the composition of National Nutrition Agency (BGN) leadership, dominated by retired military and police officers, many without formal training or expertise in nutrition, food safety or public health.

After a meeting with NasDem Party chair Surya Paloh, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters he received several suggestions from the politician-cum-businessman in maintaining national stability and protecting the country’s sovereignty.

Some businesses prefer direct elections for early opportunities to engage with candidates, while others prefer indirect polls for more political predictability and stability, according to a recent study from Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Sjafrie described the one-hour meeting with Surya as part of an outreach to politicians in a bid to "maintain national stability" and "protect the country's sovereignty", which is under the purview of his ministry.

President Prabowo Subianto’s popularity may help the nationalist party win the 2029 elections, analysts have said, but extra efforts will still be needed as Gerindra may face more challenges in the next four years.

Former education minister Nadiem Makarim told reporters that he accepted the court’s decision to reject his pretrial motion that challenged the Attorney General’s Office’s (AGO) naming him a suspect.

The House of Representatives has denied reports of a fresh increase in lawmakers’ recess allowances, asserting its commitment to reform pledges as experts urge for stronger transparency and accountability in the use of the funds.

Each lawmaker will now get Rp 700 million ($42,200) for each recess, up from Rp 400 million previously. All of the 580 lawmakers take approximately five breaks per year.

The government is aiming to pass the cybersecurity and resilience bill into law by the end of 2025, as the draft law has been included in the House of Representatives’ 2025 Prolegnas (National Legislation Program) priority list.

Scholars have reminded the Indonesian Navy to carefully study the planned acquisition of the Italian decommissioned light aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, weighing both the merits and disadvantages of having a capital ship. 

The five Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel who were in the back seat of the vehicle that killed Affan Kurniawan were ordered to issue an apology to the public and the National Police leadership alongside administrative sanctions.

President Prabowo has once again expanded his already large cabinet, bringing in four new officials and creating a new government body in his fourth reshuffle on Wednesday, a move analysts say may risk hampering efficiency and straining coordination.

The Alliance of Independence Journalists (AJI) has reported persistent police brutality across several provinces, calling for stronger oversight and genuine reform amid what it described as systemic impunity within the force.

President Prabowo Subianto has announced the creation of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua Development, naming several key officials who will support the implementation of development programs in the region during a mini Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.

A meeting on Saturday between President Prabowo Subianto and his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo seems to indicate a shift in the dynamic between the two, analysts say, suggesting that Jokowi might be seeking reassurance as political pressure mounts on both him and his family.

Halim Kalla, president director of construction company PT Bumi Rama Nusantara (BRN), now known as PT Bakti Reka Nusa, is among the four individuals suspected of conspiring to manipulate the project’s tender process to secure the contract unlawfully.

In his address at the celebration held at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, Prabowo hailed the TNI as “the backbone” of national defense and “the guarantor” of the country’s sovereignty, saying that the military plays an important role in Indonesia's development.

Confirmation of the meeting first came from Jokowi’s aide, police Comr. Syarif Muhammad Fitriansyah, who said that Jokowi, during a visit to Jakarta, had stopped by Prabowo’s Kertanegara residence.

After reviewing data submitted by TikTok on Oct. 3, which covered traffic escalation and TikTok Live monetization during nationwide protests over lawmakers’ lavish incentives and police brutality from Aug. 25–30, the communications ministry concluded that the platform had met its obligations.

Analysts argue that reform must begin with a revision of the 2002 Police Law, which has so far failed to deliver a professional and accountable force.

The dominance of politically connected figures in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is again under scrutiny after a survey revealed that one-third of commissioner seats are held by political appointees, many linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra party.

The government has suspended operations of “problematic” free meal kitchens amid investigations into mass poisoning cases but said the program will continue nationwide, with authorities pledging closer supervision to prevent further incidents.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has begun producing multivitamins to be distributed to children through its free meals program, an official said on Wednesday, the latest expansion of the military into civilian life under President Prabowo Subianto.

Two protesters, 23-year-old Muhammad Farhan Hamid and 24-year-old Reno Syachputra Dewo, are still missing after they reportedly participated in a violent protest in front of the Jakarta Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Central Jakarta in late August.

The President said sharp exchanges during the election campaign were necessary to keep the democratic contest dynamic and engaging. But once elections are over, he continued, political rivalries should no longer be dwelt upon.

Lawmakers have been planning to include any future recommendations from two separate teams in charge of reforming the police into the proposed revision to the police law, amid public pressure for sweeping police reform.

Six decades after the 1965 purge, the phantom of communism still haunts the nation, with the government and the police continuing to invoke its memory to instill fear.

The United Development Party (PPP) is embroiled in an internal leadership struggle after two rival factions each declared their own party chair during a weekend congress that had briefly erupted into brawls between party members.

The Presidential Palace has faced mounting criticism from journalist groups and rights organizations after briefly revoking a reporter’s credentials over questions about the government’s free nutritious meal program, linked to thousands of food poisoning cases nationwide, raising concerns about press freedom in Indonesia.