Tenggara Backgrounder May 10

Can Jokowi manage his grand political coalition?

Overview - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo looks to have it all in his second term now that he is almost assured of winning last month’s election (the formal announcement is not due until May 22). Jokowi sits on a grand coalition of political parties, made even bigger with one or more parties that had opposed his reelection looking to join in. But will he really govern unopposed over the next five years?

Relocating capital city: Same old plan

Overview - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to relocate the capital city came as a surprise. With only five months left before his first term ends, the President presented the ambitious plan during a Cabinet meeting. While the plan may astonish some, talk about moving the capital city date back to the era of founding president Sukarno. As past presidents have failed, it remains to be seen whether Jokowi can realize the decades-old plan.

Oil & gas thorough investment policy reform needed

Overview - Only two out of five oil and gas blocks on offer received winning investors; the remaining three are to be retendered. At the same time, reports say that Royal Dutch Shell intends to withdraw from the development of the giant Masela gas block. However, the reports, according to our sources, turned out to be untrue, which demonstrates the complications around the Masela project.

BI to see another female senior deputy governor

Overview - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has submitted the name Destry Damayanti, currently commissioner of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS), to the House of Representatives as the sole candidate for Bank Indonesia (BI) senior deputy governor to replace Mirza Adityaswara, whose term will end in July. House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo confirmed to several media outlets that Jokowi had sent the letter nominating Destry as a single candidate to the House.