Episode 53: Strange Bedfellows, or How SBY Learned to Love Prabowo

Dialogika Podcast

In this episode, Stephanie’s finally back (and with #hottakes) as we talk about the looming deadline for political parties in Indonesia to register their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for next year’s election. What made the news recently is that former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, better known as SBY, has come out and endorsed Prabowo, becoming a part of his coalition and competing against Jokowi’s coalition, which is led by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri. We’ll unpack all the political drama and personal history that has spanned decades — certainly within our lifetimes — as we discuss the ramifications of SBY’s decision. We’ll also talk about electability surveys and discuss Jokowi’s pro-people populism vs. Prabowo’s Islamic-conversative populism. Finally, as two Indonesians currently living abroad, we want to encourage all Indonesians — abroad or not — to remember to register to vote for next year’s election, which will be on 17 April 2019; and, of course, to vote on the day itself! For Indonesians abroad, the deadline for registering to vote abroad is coming up soon! Here in America it’s the 14th of August; please check your local Indonesian embassy or the Panitia Pemilihan Luar Negeri (PPLN) for more information — PLEASE REGISTER!