Prabowo and Pranowo: No for PDI-P, Yes for Gerindra
Indonesia’s largest party (PDI-P) has balked at a proposal that Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto should run for president with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as his running mate. PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Monday that party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri had instructed the PDI-P to nominate a presidential candidate from its own ranks, and dismissed the possibility of the party supporting Prabowo for the position in 2024. “The offer for a coalition in nominating a presidential candidate should come from the PDI-P,” Hasto said, as quoted by Kompas.
A senior politician from the Gerindra Party said over the weekend that Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo should get a vice-presidential slot in the event the party chairman Prabowo Subianto decides to run in the 2024 presidential election. Deputy chairman of Gerindra’s Advisory Board, Hasjim Djojohadikusumo, who is also the younger brother of Prabowo, said on Sunday that given Prabowo’s age and experience it was only natural for the Gerindra chairman to be at the top of the ticket.
$20 billion Tax Scandal
Suspicious transactions over 14 years involving 460 people, mainly in the tax and custom agencies, have sparked public anger and calls out the government and its ministries for corruption. Amongst others, questionable dealings related to criminal offenses at the Finance Ministry and other ministries from 2009 to 2023 have been brought to light. Although not implicated in the scandal, public outrage has even called for the resignation of current Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Nonetheless, in an effort to restore public trust, Minister Indrawati has spoken on the matter and tearfully pledged to investigate the issue thoroughly and “make sure that we do our best”. Lavish lifestyles of tax and customs officials on civil servant wages have raised questions and triggered public anger, calling for a thorough revamping of the system to prevent similar corruption cases to repeat itself in the future.