Ganjar-Kamil ticket? Versus Prabowo-Gibran? Heavyweight match-up looms in Indonesia’s 2024 presidential race

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Politics: Former Gov Ridwan Kamil fueled speculation about his possible inclusion on the ticket of former Gov Ganjar Pranowo by hinting at “breaking news next week.”  Anticipation is also mounting of a combination of Prabowo Subianto with the presi­dent’s son, Gibran Rakabuming.  Banners depicting them have emerged, even though the Solo mayor is not yet eligible.  Ref Wkly examines the scenarios, likelihoods and implications.  

Muhaimin Iskandar took his National Awakening Party (PKB) out of Prabowo’s alliance and became the vice‑presidential running mate of former Gov Anies Baswedan.  A day later he faced questioning for five hours from the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK), pertaining to a 2012 case when he was labor minister. Ref Wkly delves into the forces at work.  Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) Chair Arsyad Rasyid will be Ganjar’s campaign chief; Ref Wkly profiles his background (p. 8).

Policy News: Officials cited a fourth-quarter start for domestic carbon trading (p. 9).  

International: In the East Asia Summit, mentions of the South China Sea, Myanmar and Ukraine appeared in the chairman’s statement, but not the leaders’ statement.  Nonetheless, the various summits afforded valuable opportunities for exchanges (p. 10).   The president discussed ‘downstreaming’ and electric vehicles at a 1^st Asean Indo‑Pacific Forum (AIPF) on investment (p. 12). 

Sustainability: A draft roadmap for the Just Energy Transition (JETP) is under review by the government, with discussions planned at a UN session this month (p. 9).

Economics: BI intervention for the rupiah, amid a narrower US interest rate differential, contributed to flat reserves over the past three months (p. 14).  Food prices eased in August, but rice is buoyant (p. 16).