Jakarta’s Last-Minute Shuffle: PJ’s New VP Wins a Supreme Court of “Amin”
It was a Friday that could have been a plain Jane political draw—until President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided to toss a last‑minute surprise into the 2024 election mix.
Who’s the New Dude?
- Ma’ruf Amin – the well‑known religious scholar who runs the advisory board of Indonesia’s largest Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
- He’s the freshly minted choice to pair up with Jokowi for the upcoming presidential race.
Why the Sudden Shuffle?
Sources say the move came as a reaction to whispers that the lukewarm “cleric‑in‑the‑making” was a forced hand on the president’s part. Jokowi didn’t give a brow raise—it was more like a diplomatic shrug. “Last minute, but pretty strategic,” he told a crowd of bright-eyed supporters.
The Big Battle Lines
- Prabowo Subianto – ex‑general, a former political heavyweight.
- Sandiaga Uno – private‑equity tycoon and Jakarta’s former deputy governor. He’s got the finance game on lock.
It’s going to be one of those interesting “do we go with the fire‑starter or the paper‑nut?” moments for voters.
Captain Jokowi’s “Clean, Real Work” Manual
Jokowi frosted his crisp white shirt with a bold catchphrase: “Clean. With the people. Real work.” That’s a statement whether you’re a fan or a critic, and it comes with a few concrete promises.
- He talked about nationalizing oil and gas assets.
- He also mentioned taking a majority stake in the huge Grasberg gold & copper mine—once under the control of the U.S. freeport giant, Freeport‑McMoran.
“It’s proof that we are sovereign,” Jokowi toasted. And there’s an iota of humor when you imagine him with a grocery‑store “HOLE” on the top of the headline.
Moments of Prayer & Play
Later that day, Ma’ruf Amin led the crowd into a prayer, calling upon a higher power to “give us the capability and spirit to safeguard us against forces that try to destroy, weaken, or break us apart.”
As the two departed the stage, a melodic Arabic chant—an Islamic blessing—played in the background, as if saying, “Ham, that’s how we keep it together.”
The Verdict
Finally, the new VP—an Islamic scholar—and the president schedule a sermon at Jakarta’s largest mosque for Friday prayers, sealing their alliance —not just in politics, but in the faith community too.
And that’s the brass‑tack news, “been there, voted for” style, with a sprinkle of humor, as always for a snack‑time political appetizer.
Indonesia’s Presidential Show‑down Gets a Fresh Twist
Picture this: Prabowo and his buddy Uno were marching straight to their chosen mosque for a quiet prayer before the big formalities with the election commission. Instead, they switched lanes and headed to a different mosque. A quick tweet from the Gerindra Party confirms the plot twist.
Why the Mosque Shuffle Matters
- Strategic play by the opposition: Marcus Mietzner, a well‑known Indonesia politics analyst, believes this shuffling could dampen any backlash against President Widodo’s alleged lack of religiosity while pushing nationalist themes to the foreground.
- Ultra‑nationalist wind in the air: According to Mietzner, the opposition is likely to focus on “sell‑out to China, invasion of foreign workers, evil imports, predatory investors.” These are the signature Prabowo angles, and they’re expected to get even juicier this election.
Flashback: The 2014 Bullfight
Remember 2014? Widodo and Prabowo went head‑to‑head for the presidency—and Widodo snagged the win. Fast forward, and Widodo’s popularity dipped after a bunch of wild rumors about him being a Christian and of Chinese ancestry began circulating online. Classic political soap opera!
Who’s the New Archangel?
Behind the curtain, President Widodo was leaning towards a different do-gooder: former constitutional court chief justice Mahfud MD. A TV interview showed Mahfud saying he was “asked in some detail” to be ready and was on standby to be named on Thursday. Yet, the President’s choice was silent.
But here’s the plot twist: NU leader Robikin Emhas admits NU, including Amin, told Widodo that they could not back Mahfud. Mietzner noted Widodo initially shrugged off NU’s disapproval, revealing how much the President still relies on his supporting parties.
National Awakening Party’s Surprise
Muhaimin Iskander of the PKB said it was a shock that Amin was picked, especially since he’d always thought Mahfud would make the cut. “I thought Mahfud was chosen. But it turned out to be Maʹruf Amin,” he confessed. In a quick as‑you‑could‑blink decision, PKB’s Abdul Kadir Karding confirmed that the choice was sealed on Thursday afternoon.
In short, the presidential race has shifted gears: from religious piety to power politics, all while political alliances tighten up. And just when you think it can’t get any more dramatic, another twist ready to unfold.
