“Apart from the ongoing student demonstrations, which have been organised by both conservative and progressive student groups, the rhetoric of political parties outside of the formal government coalition has been oppositional. On 6 September, the Justice and Welfare Party (PKS) staged a walk-out of a parliamentary sitting protesting the price rises. Student groups connected to the PKS […]
Business Throws its Support Behind Indonesia’s Opposition-Free Liberal Democracy” by Max Lane
“As electioneering activities start to warm up for the 2024 elections, potential candidates are seeking to enhance their credentials and quietly assessing their own electability. In this context, the traditional political party elites have to contend with a new breed of entrepreneur politicians whose profiles are boosted by their achievements in the ongoing transformation of […]
INDONESIA’S NEW CRIMINAL CODE: THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS CIVIL SOCIETY, AGAIN by Max Lane
While public opposition to Indonesia’s proposed revision to its Criminal Code has stalled its passage in parliament, the conservative political establishment looks set to have the upper hand unless the bill’s critics can turn the tide with louder protests. For more read HERE
Indonesia’s New Workers Party: Ambiguity in Labour Politics by Max Lane
The formation of a new Workers Party backed by the country’s labour unions signifies a new trend in Indonesian politics. In August 2021, a new Workers Party (Partai Buruh, PB) was formed. The structure of the party was formalised through a congress in October 2021. For union confederations, 50 trade union federations and a women’s fishermen and […]
FOR PEACE AND LIBERATION: A SOCIALIST EDUCATION CONFERENCE
August 27-28 2022 Sydney, Australia HERE
Timor Leste’s New President: Polarisation Defused or Postponed? by Max Lane
“ On 20 May, Dr Jose Ramos Horta was sworn in as the new president of Timor Leste. The solid win by the president-elect, however, does not solve the internecine conflicts between parties at different ends of the political spectrum. Dr Horta bagged his victory despite the 19 March presidential elections seeing a crowded field of 16 […]
A Third Term for Jokowi: Weighing the Risks of Constitutional Change by Max Lane
“The recent brouhaha over a possible extension of President Joko Widodo’s term underscores a quandary in Indonesia’s politics: there is no low-risk candidate that political parties can back.” To read full article click HERE
How have Two Years of Pandemic Affected Indonesian Political Life? by Max Lane
From ISEAS Perspective, No 7, 2022. “A more fundamental reason why the pandemic has not significantly altered Indonesian political life is that Indonesia’s underlying political structure reinforces policy homogeneity within the broad ruling elite. The primary focus of contestations remains the maneuvering and positioning in relation to the 2024 elections, both presidential and parliamentary..” Read […]
“Uncertainties Surrounding the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Election” by Max Lane.
“Being the only party with 20% of parliamentary seats, the PDIP’s choice of candidate is therefore an important question. So far, Puan Maharani is favoured by Megawati and the party machinery, but she polls significantly behind Ganjar Pranowo. Given this potential impasse, Joko Widodo has even surfaced as a possibility, but this would require constitutional […]
Food story: “Borek in Melbourne and the Indonesia factor.”
Eating as a source of pleasure obviously has a long history. No doubt there is a physiologically based link between that pleasure, registered primarily in the mouth, nostrils and stomach, and the urge to eat to sustain ourselves. The pleasure can be very private, as when we indulge secretly in a favourite chocolate or a […]
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