The July 2018 edition of Indonesia Update raises the main topic on the results of the 2018 Local Elections (Pilkada): local democracy is mature. This main report highlights three things; namely, the collapse of political dynasties, the increasingly intelligent voters, and the importance of regulatory reform of the Regional Head Election Law Number 10/2016 on Local Elections. These three topics show the progress of democracy in Indonesia, as could be seen through the 2018 local elections.

In addition to the main report, two other political issues in this update are a look at the rules of KPU on the prohibition of former corruptors to contest the 2019 elections and the use of social media and elections results in 2018. Social media as a campaign tool of the candidates in the 2018 local elections was not too effective.

On the economy, Indonesia Update raises a topic on the importance of empowerment of UMKM after the decline of tax rate and the economic potential of the presence of online transportation. On the issue of online transportation, it discusses the economic impact of therevocation of operating licenses; that is, increased unemployment.

On social affairs, the July Indonesia Update presents three issues; namely, the adolescent access to contraceptives, which includes the importance of adolescent access to contraceptives and the steps that must be taken to introduce contraceptive services. The two other issues are the importance of the child immunization card requirement for elementary school entrance and the disability issue on the question “are buildings and transportation in Jakarta friendly to persons with disability?”

The regular publication of the Indonesian Update with its actual themes is expected to help policymakers in government and business environment — as well as academics, think tanks, and other elements of civil society, both within and outside the country, to get the actual information and contextual analysis of economic, legal, political, cultural and social developments in Indonesia, as well as to understand the public policy in Indonesia.

Happy Reading.

The Indonesian Update-Volume XII No. 6- July2018 (English Version)