Governor of Jakarta

Governor of Jakarta
Name	Governor of Jakarta
Native name	Gubernur DKI Jakarta
Incumbent	Anies Baswedan
Incumbentsince	16 October 2017
Residence	Balai Kota DKI Jakarta
Seat	Jakarta
Appointer	Popular election
Termlength	Five years, renewable once
Formation	1945
Inaugural	Suwiryo

Governor of Jakarta is the head of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, responsible for implementing regional administration, coordinating with the national executive, and representing Jakarta in domestic and international affairs. The office operates within frameworks set by the Constitution of Indonesia, Law on Regional Government (Undang-Undang 23/2014), and interactions with institutions such as the People's Representative Council (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Indonesia). The incumbent collaborates with leaders from provinces like West Java, Banten, and cities including Bandung and Surabaya in metropolitan planning.

Role and Responsibilities

The governor oversees administration of the Special Capital Region, managing relationships with the Presidency of Indonesia, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, and agencies such as the National Police (Indonesia), Indonesian National Armed Forces, and National Disaster Management Authority for resilience. Responsibilities include urban planning with stakeholders like the Jakarta Metropolitan Area (Jabodetabek), infrastructure projects involving corporations such as PT MRT Jakarta, PT TransJakarta, and Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), and public services liaising with institutions like BPJS Kesehatan, Jakarta Health Office, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. The governor represents Jakarta at forums including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and multilateral events attended by delegations from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Singapore.

History

The office traces roots to the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, and administrative changes during the Indonesian National Revolution and the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference. Early holders navigated transitions involving the Republic of Indonesia (1945–present), the Liberal Democracy period (Indonesia), and the Guided Democracy era under Sukarno. During the New Order (Indonesia) under Suharto, governance centralized with input from entities like the Department of Home Affairs (Indonesia) and the Golkar party. Post-1998 Reformasi (Indonesia) reforms led to direct elections influenced by parties including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Democratic Party, Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), and National Awakening Party (PKB).

Election and Term

Since regional autonomy laws and post-Reformasi provisions, the governor is chosen by popular vote in elections administered by the General Elections Commission (KPU), with candidates often backed by parties such as Golkar, PDI-P, Gerindra, and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Campaigns involve coalitions including National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP), and endorsements from figures like Joko Widodo, Megawati Sukarnoputri, and Prabowo Subianto. Terms last five years with a two-term limit set by law, subject to oversight by the Constitutional Court of Indonesia on electoral disputes and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on ethics.

Powers and Administration

Executive powers are exercised within constraints of the Law on Regional Government (Undang-Undang Nomor 23 Tahun 2014), coordination with the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DKI Jakarta), and budgetary processes tied to the Ministry of Finance (Indonesia), the State Budget (APBN), and the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD). The governor appoints heads of provincial agencies like the Jakarta Transportation Agency, Jakarta Housing and Settlement Office, and collaborates with state-owned enterprises such as Pertamina, Perum DAMRI, and PT KAI on transit integration. Law enforcement interaction includes the Jakarta Metropolitan Police and coordination with the Attorney General of Indonesia. Administrative divisions overseen include municipalities like Central Jakarta, North Jakarta, West Jakarta, East Jakarta, and South Jakarta.

List of Governors

Notable officeholders include early administrators such as Suwiryo, Sjamsuridjal, leaders during Sukarno and Suharto epochs, reform-era figures like Ali Sadikin, Soemarno Sosroatmodjo, and post-Reformasi governors including Fauzi Bowo, Joko Widodo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, and the incumbent Anies Baswedan. Other prominent names connected to Jakarta's governance and politics include Henk Ngantung, Tjokropranolo, R. H. Soekarno?.

Notable Policies and Initiatives

Governors have launched major initiatives such as the TransJakarta bus rapid transit expansion, development of MRT Jakarta and LRT Jakarta, flood mitigation projects involving the East Flood Canal and partnerships with the World Bank, urban revitalization programs like Kampung Improvement Program and slum upgrading in collaboration with UN-Habitat. Health and social programs engaged BPJS Kesehatan and targeted vaccination drives related to COVID-19 pandemic responses, while economic initiatives liaised with Jakarta Smart City, Jakarta Investment Coordinating Board, and investment promotion involving Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) and Soekarno–Hatta International Airport.

Controversies and Criticism

Governors faced controversies involving alleged corruption investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), legal disputes adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Indonesia, and public protests organized by groups such as BEM SI and Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia (KSPI). Policies have been criticized in cases related to eviction and land rights disputes with actors including Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) and urban activists from Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH Jakarta). High-profile incidents involved debates over religious and ethnic issues engaging organizations like Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, and political figures such as Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), provoking national attention from entities including Komnas HAM.

Category:Politics of Jakarta