Indonesia’s Democratic Journey in 2024: A Year of Progress
Elections and Leadership
In 2024, Indonesia made significant progress in its democratic journey, holding its first-ever simultaneous presidential, legislative, and regional elections since the end of the New Order era. The highlight of the year was the election of Prabowo Subianto as Indonesia’s eighth president, a remarkable third attempt by the Gerindra Party leader to claim the nation’s coveted post. Prabowo, along with his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, secured a resounding victory on February 14 with 58.6 per cent of the votes in a single round.
Cabinet and Government
As president, Prabowo introduced the "Kabinet Merah Putih", the largest Cabinet since the Reform Era. The Cabinet comprises seven coordinating ministers, 41 ministers, 13 cabinet-level agency heads, and 56 deputy ministers. Notably, 17 ministers from Jokowi’s administration were retained.
Legislative Elections
In the legislative elections, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), led by political matriarch Megawati Sukarnoputri, remained the largest party and outside KIM coalition, securing 110 out of 580 seats in the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR). PDI-P’s political chairwoman Puan Maharani, Megawati’s daughter, was reappointed as Speaker of the DPR for the 2024-2029 term.
Regional Elections
On November 27, simultaneous regional elections were held across 37 provinces, 93 cities, and 415 regencies, with 103 pairs of gubernatorial candidates, 284 pairs of mayoral candidates, and 1,168 pairs of regency candidates. KIM Plus-backed candidates triumphed in key provinces like West Java and East Java, surpassing PDI-P candidates.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Prabowo has pledged to address poverty, ensure food and energy self-sufficiency, and continue Jokowi’s economic policies, such as downstreaming. His early presidency has focused on tackling corruption, launching a free school lunch program, supporting infrastructure projects like Nusantara, modernizing defense, and advocating for Palestinian independence.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s democratic journey in 2024 was marked by significant progress, with the country holding its first-ever simultaneous presidential, legislative, and regional elections. The election of Prabowo Subianto as president and the formation of his Cabinet signaled a new direction for the country. As Indonesia looks to the future, it is important that the country’s leaders prioritize issues such as poverty, food and energy self-sufficiency, and corruption, and continue to promote democracy and human rights.
FAQs
Q: Who is Prabowo Subianto?
A: Prabowo Subianto is the President of Indonesia, elected in 2024.
Q: What is the "Kabinet Merah Putih"?
A: The "Kabinet Merah Putih" is the largest Cabinet since the Reform Era, introduced by Prabowo Subianto.
Q: Who is Megawati Sukarnoputri?
A: Megawati Sukarnoputri is the political matriarch of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
Q: What is KIM Plus?
A: KIM Plus is a larger version of the KIM coalition formed by Prabowo and his allies, adding seven more parties to the coalition.
Q: What are Indonesia’s future plans under Prabowo’s presidency?
A: Indonesia’s future plans under Prabowo’s presidency include addressing poverty, ensuring food and energy self-sufficiency, and continuing Jokowi’s economic policies.