Reformasi Dispatch

Indonesia's election authorities took down the 'SiRekap' online display of the vote count -- just after an improbable leap in the count for PSI, the party of the president's younger son.  Erin Cook of Dari Mulut ke Mulut steps in as co-host with Kevin to discuss the legislative‑election tallying, whether Jakarta's November gubernatorial contest will feature direct voting a...

A recent presidential fashion statement -- a bright yellow necktie -- triggered anticipation that he may harbor designs on a takeover of Golkar, the Soeharto-era ruling party that will likely remain second-largest in the next parliament.  Insider sources cited by Tempo magazine corroborated this indication of this maneuvering via sartorial elegance.  But a Golkar takeover next December would be no...

Nickel smelter air pollution, and the cost on the economy and public health, is the focus of substantive research in a new 100-page report from Crea and Celios.  Crea analyst Katherine Hassan discusses the findings, methodology, and implications -- including the possibility of much of Eastern Indonesia eventually becoming a highly polluted and impoverished zone.  At issue is whether regulatory enf...

Pollster Seth Soderborg joins for our post election wrap up as Indonesians overwhelmingly cast ballots in the first round for Prabowo Subianto who syphoned support from Joko Widodo's fellow party member, Ganjar Pranowo. Now Ganjar's party, the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) must decide whether to join a governing coalition or reprise its role as parliamentary opposition....

The Prabowo-Gibran ticket has succeeded in portraying the 14 February national election as, in effect, a referendum on Widodo-ism -- with themselves on the overwhelmingly popular side promising "continuity".  But will it instead, unbeknownst to many, actually prove to be a referendum on democracy? Jeff and Kevin discuss new polling data and the impact (if any) of some livelier public dis...

If you enjoy Reformasi Dispatch, you might enjoy our special episode. In this special episode, we talk to Andreas Harsono, a veteran reporter and rights advocate writing for the NGO Human Rights Watch. Get the episode on Buy Me A Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/e/219468

In the final days of campaigning, Prabowo has benefited from joint appearances with the popular president, but prospects for a one-round win are nonetheless questionable.  The professional public-opinion research analyst Seth Soderberg joins the pod to delve into the dynamics and assess probabilities.  Also: Jeff and Kevin examine cabinet resignation rumors and review the final presidential candid...

As the presidential campaign enters the home stretch, President Widodo may weigh whether to overtly endorse Prabowo, which would indelibly tie him to Prabowo's fortunes.  Joint public appearances have been sustaining Prabowo's momentum, but prospects for a first-round majority are not yet fully assured.  Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss the politics of rice and food aid as the Widodo adminis...

NetGrit founder Hadar Gumay explains the mechanics of the 14 February election process - from the voter list to the official count, and all the balloting procedures and monitoring systems in between.  Given his experience, this is tantamount to having the workings of a car engine explained by Henry Ford.  He cites the complexities, including Papua's communal noken voting, but notes the remark...

As we gear up for an election year we are turning to our donors but this time we are giving back! As a token of our gratitude for your US$20 donation we are making available exclusive content, starting with a special podcast episode recapping the fourth presidential debate. Kevin and Jeff offer up analysis of who had a good night and who fell short. Donors will get insight into whether Indonesia’s...

Should Gerindra Chair Prabowo Subianto be thankful that President Widodo has provided vital backing?  Or should the president be grateful that Prabowo has provided a lifeline?  How these two regard one another may shape Indonesia's political outlook for some time.  For 'Perth-spective,' we turn to Murdoch University's Indo-Pacific Research Center and its senior fellow Ian Wilso...

Four friends of the pod chime in on how they see 2024 unfolding: human rights analyst Andreas Harsono, renewables expert Fabby Tumiwa, environmental scientist Katherine Hassan and Eurasia Group Southeast Asia Director Peter Mumford.  At the start of the new year, they outline the opportunities and stakes in their respective fields, touch on elections, the economy, energy and sustainability. Jeff a...

How resilient are the independent democratic institutions in Indonesia's current election process?  A chief monitor of electoral agencies, Khoirunissa of the pro-democracy NGO Perludem, examines campaign finance issues, enforcement of rules on gender equality and preparations for conducting candidate debates.  She also takes note of changing roles for key institutions that civil-society organ...

Human rights and the rule-of-law received rare scrutiny in a well-conducted first debate.  Awkward moments occurred for Prabowo Subianto, but new polling shows him very well cushioned.  Also discussed: a bill to end Jakarta governor elections, with bewilderingly broad support; and ministers narrowly avert (for now) a broad-backed effort to boost Anwar Usman and perhaps restore him as Constitutiona...

Gibran Rakabuming's VP nomination triggered a poll swing.  Author and Chatham House Asia-Pacific Director Ben Bland joins the pod to lend perspective.  Also: Ganjar's remarks on reformasi and President Widodo's  fireside chat with Joe Biden. Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extras It takes a lot of money to run a podca...

After a verdict favoring the president's son, the president's brother-in-law lost his post as Constitutional Court chief justice for having egregiously violated ethics.  To examine the details of the Ethics Panel ruling, Reformasi Dispatch consulted Bivitri Susanti, a prominent constitutional law expert with Jentera University.  The ruling cites Anwar Usman for failing to recuse, mishand...

Megawati visted her father's mausoleum in Blitar and, perhaps having drawn inspiration, permitted party officials immediately thereafter to uncork zingers aimed at Gibran and Prabowo -- whom Djarot Hidayat now calls the 'Neo New Order'.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications for the election - both legislative and presidential.  Also, background for the forthcoming Ethics Panel de...

A series of constitutional court decisions last week regarding age requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates have carved out a loophole seemingly tailor made for President Joko Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the mayor of Solo. Anyone seeking the highest or second highest office in the land must be 40 years old, according to a 2017 law. The court last week sa...

200 civil-society groups decried a re-writing of Indonesia's Election Law enabling the president's son to stand for vice presodent.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications and why there is hesitation about a Prabowo-Rakabuming ticket.  Also: Ganjar chooses Mahfud and police pursue the KPK. Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/...

Agricultural exports have been in focus and the podcast enlists an expert on sustainability science to share his experiences across the archipegalo wth cultivators of coffee, cocoa, palm oil and rubber.  He addresses opportunities afforded by the controversial EU Deforestation Regulation and longer-term implications of rising temperatures.   Also: Jeff and Kevin cover recent campaigning as well as...

Live from Jakarta! Dr Thomas Loidl, Austria’s ambassador to Indonesia joins the pod as Reformasi Dispatch records its 100th episode in front of a capacity audience at the Austrian Embassy. Kevin and Jeff talk with Ambassador Loidl about why Indonesia’s elections matter, the threat of disinformation. Kevin sets the stage for Pemilu 2024. And a pop quiz uncovers a shocking lack of familiarity with t...

BBC's veteran Southeast correspondent joins Reformasi Dispatch to assess how Asean is coping with super‑power rivalry in a 'post‑globalization' framework.  The answer (spoiler alert): could be better.  Jonathan contributes his perspective on conditions in Myanmar and the importance of Indonesia's diplomatic efforts via Asean; he also touches on EVs in SE Asia.  Also in the epis...

Indonesia's foreign policy is even freer and more active than usual, as President Joko Widodo negotiates the G20, Asean, IPEF, Aukus, the OECD, Brics and other acronyms.  On the eve of Asean's Jakarta Summit and in the wake of Widodo's address to Brics, the pod consults foreign policy expert Dewi Fortuna (of the Habibie Center and the National Research and Innovation Agency or &apos...

The Indonesia analyst for the Helsinki-based NGO Crea joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast to cut through the haze concerning the world's worst smog.  We examine SO2, NOx and 2.5ug particulates in Jakarta's 'airshed' and consider the urgency of revamping regulations on coal.  While the issue pits coal-related interests against considerations of public health -- and official pro...

Earlier this month Indonesia government data showed the country’s GDP grew at an annualized rate of 5.2 per cent during the three months to June 30. It’s a rate of growth that would be the envy of most big economies not least because it has so far avoided triggering rapid price inflation while paralleling an overall improvement in government services. The state of the economy has helped support a...