The June 2020 edition of the Indonesian Update raises a major report on the holding of the campaigns in the 2020 Regional Election (Pilkada) and the implementations of health protocols in the midst of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The health protocol in organizing the 2020 elections should ideally present a sense of security in each stage. However, the existence of a way of campaigning that requires face-to-face interactions seems to place the health protocol in the opposite position.

In the economic field, this year’s Update discusses the conditions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Large-scale Social Restrictions Policy (PSBB) is a double-edged knife. On the one hand, it is a positive effect to help suppress the spread of COVID-19. On the other hand, policies also have a negative impact on some circles, especially MSMEs. In addition, we also discussed the issue of government debt policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because the conversation about Indonesia’s debts has become a hot topic lately. Indonesia has also participated in a series of fiscal stimulus. As a result, the state budget deficit has widened.

In the field of Law, the Indonesian Update discusses measuring the urgency of the elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of this critical situation, compared to continuing to implement the elections in the pandemic, the government should be wiser in issuing a Perppu that regulates governance in the midst of this vacuum and transition. In addition, we discuss the current conditions of freedom of speech in Indonesia. This is very important, bearing in mind the growing threat to freedom of speech in Indonesia, including in cyberspace.

In the political field, the Indonesian Update discusses the performance of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) entering new normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Adaptation has been carried out by the government as a step to break the COVID-19 pandemic chain. One of them is related to public services. ASN is demanded to continue to provide excellent service performance. In addition, we discuss understanding public complaints and government responsiveness in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we also discuss the importance of evidence-based policy formulation in new normal policy-making amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the social field, the Indonesian Update raises the risk of adaptation scenarios to new habits. The new normal policy must be reviewed with a multidisciplinary mature study and implemented with simultaneous public communication mechanisms and strict supervision. In addition, we discuss the portrait of mental health services during the pandemic.

The monthly publication of the Indonesian Update with actual themes is expected to help policy makers in government and business institutions – as well as academics, think tanks, and elements of civil society, both at home and abroad, to get actual information and contextual analysis of economic conditions, political, social and legal aspects in Indonesia, and an understanding of public policy in Indonesia.

Happy reading.

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