Tenggara Backgrounder September 21

Election campaign: Tumultuous but not dangerous

The tumultuous and polarizing presidential campaign will officially begin on Sunday and end on April 17. Despite the delicate situation it may create, it will not be necessarily a dangerous time. Historical records showed that election campaigns in Indonesia have never been violent, albeit tensions arose.

Supreme court versus KPU: struggle continues

The General Elections Commission (KPU) proves to be tenacious in its fight against corruption. Amidst the Supreme Court’s decision to annul the former’s regulation that bans former graft, sexual assault and drug abuse convicts from contesting, the KPU continues formulating strategic maneuvers for anti-graft campaign.

Govt races to save universal coverage policy

With a projected Rp 11 trillion cashflow deficit, the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS) issue is becoming a national problem that should be handled with care, given its social, economical and political implications.

Jokowi’s fuel subsidies reform is just an illusion

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s fuel subsidies reform is more likely about moving government’s subsidy burden to state-owned energy company Pertamina’ financial. At the same time, his persistence to maintain fuel prices for his reelection bid in 2019 faces growing opposition from technocrats and the business community.