Following the profound setback to democratization from Golkar's takeover, constitutional justices undertook a spirited effort to restore competition to regional-head elections -- only for parliament to countermand the court a day later with a Regional Head Election Law revision. To examine the whiplash-like effects of events, we enlisted the veteran journalist Wahyu Dhyatmika of Tempo - the venerable news group that occupies a central role in documenting Indonesia's political convulsions. We discuss the circumstances of Golkar Chair Airlangga Hartarto's resignation, the ensuing cabinet reshuffle, two momentous Constitutional Court verdicts on 20 August and the legislative reprisal led by Gerindra in parliament. We assess the prospects for demonstrations, the implications for the legitimacy of the regional‑head election system and the longer-term consequences for the rule-of-law versus "Ruler's Law". Credit to our intrepid journalist-and-sound engineer Steven Handoko for turning around the audio file in record time and keeping the content fresh!

For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info

Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

President Widodo and Prabowo Subianto need no longer contend with restiveness from Indonesia's second-largest party: Golkar Chair Airlangga Hartarto sensationally resigned and his replacement will be the Widodo-Prabowo loyalist Bahlil Lahadahlia.

Kevin and Erin discuss the implications for democratization (spoiler: not good) and, specifically, regional-head races (not good either). For Jakarta's race, the maneuvering will exclude incumbent Gov Anies Baswedan, ensuring the election of Ridwan Kamil as the only party-backed nominee on the ballot - and we examine comparable dynamics in several other provinces. But, if Widodo emerges as chair of Golkar Advisory Board that has expanded powers, how will that function in practice? Indonesia's attempt at a duumvirate inevitably entails inherent tensions.

Also: the attempted comeback of the Constitutional Court's former chief justice, Anwar Usman; the abrupt resignation of a key Information Ministry official; and, in Thailand, the ouster of Prime Minister Sretta and his replacement with Paetongtarn (Ung Ing) Shinawatra.

Finally: an interview on human trafficking with the Airlangga University PhD candidate in labor migration studies, Aniello Iannone. We discuss the dimensions and dynamics of illegal trafficking (TPPO) in Indonesia, domestically and internationally, including the mechanisms of agents operating at the community level - and how certain civil-society organizations are striving to safeguard victims, including children.

For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info

Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

This week, Southeast Asia's politics witnessed the dissolution of Thailand's most popular party (again), and strides in Indonesia's regional‑head elections to thwart the administration's rivals -- in which case, ballots in November may literally feature empty boxes for voters' only alternative to a nominee of a hegemonic alliance. Also: Erin and Kevin discuss Sheikh Hasina's downfall in Dhaka, as well as a breakthrough Indonesian health reform and latest developments on the Nusantara capital project.

For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info

Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/