The Challenge from Kertanegara

Anies Baswedan quietly left Prabowo Subianto's house in South Jakarta. He finished meeting the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party chairman at 3:30am on the last day of registrations for candidates intending to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Unlike other guests who came and left the house through its front gate, the former education and culture minister decided to leave through the right-side gate.

Few knew of the speedy exit. At the time, journalists who had been waiting since the previous day focused on the gate on the left side of the house. Some reporters spotted Anies as he stood close to his car. That morning, Gerindra and the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) had invited Anies to discuss the possibility of his running in the gubernatorial election. Anies stayed mum; he simply got into his car and drove away. Three minutes later, Tempo sent him a text message on the same possibility. He responded with statements related to his meeting at Prabowo's house but insisted everything be off the record.

September 27, 2016