16 January 2014
Indonesia’s Political Outlook: Towards GE2014– Some Trends and Observations
Abstract
With the Indonesian general elections of 2014 just around the corner, two contentious issues revisit the archipelago: a disputed voters list and potential presidential candidates in the upcoming elections. The former is a perennial source of contention and infighting among rival political parties that threatens to undermine the democratic voting process. The latter injects a familiar melodramatic element in the political theatre in the form of an epic battle as Indonesia transits to a post-SBY landscape. This policy paper appraises the interlude before campaigning commences in late January 2014, delineating the political permutations that would take shape and the potential conflicts that may arise in the course of the electioneering. In particular, the presence of Jakarta Governor Jokowi as a “rising star” in Indonesian politics deserves special mention, as his potential participation in both the legislative and presidential races will have a ripple effect on how future politics will play out.
Abstract
With the Indonesian general elections of 2014 just around the corner, two contentious issues revisit the archipelago: a disputed voters list and potential presidential candidates in the upcoming elections. The former is a perennial source of contention and infighting among rival political parties that threatens to undermine the democratic voting process. The latter injects a familiar melodramatic element in the political theatre in the form of an epic battle as Indonesia transits to a post-SBY landscape. This policy paper appraises the interlude before campaigning commences in late January 2014, delineating the political permutations that would take shape and the potential conflicts that may arise in the course of the electioneering. In particular, the presence of Jakarta Governor Jokowi as a “rising star” in Indonesian politics deserves special mention, as his potential participation in both the legislative and presidential races will have a ripple effect on how future politics will play out.
