The Seventh Reshuffle and Jokowi's Safari: Two Suns Heading Toward 2029

President Prabowo Subianto once again changed the composition of his cabinet on Thursday (1/10/2026), coinciding with the commemoration of Pancasila Sanctity Day. This is the seventh reshuffle in two years of government, and most strikingly, just two weeks after the sixth overhaul. This unusual frequency raises a question: is this merely an administrative refresh, or a signal that the coalition is being renegotiated ahead of the 2029 Election?

In this latest overhaul, the National Police chief's post changed hands, the Foreign Minister's seat shifted, and a new coordinating ministry was formed. Dudung Abdurachman, who had led the Presidential Staff Office for only five months, was moved to become Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. Meanwhile, Listyo Sigit Prabowo—who had previously led the National Police for five years and eight months—now fills the seat of Head of the Presidential Staff, the node that oversees priority programs at the President's side.

Political observers assess this rotation not as a sign of the weakening of the network often called the "Solo Gang", but rather as its strengthening. Listyo has not left the circle of power; he has moved from holding command of the security apparatus to setting the agenda. His name became widely known when he served as Solo Police Chief while Jokowi was still mayor. That career path now continues to the center of strategic decision-making.

Bahlil Lahadalia's position is also worth examining. He was not moved, but rather promoted to Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition, while retaining the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The energy, mining, and downstreaming sectors are the heart of the national economy as well as a source of political logistics. Bahlil also still leads the Golkar Party, a party whose cadre, Nusron Wahid, remains in place even though four people the KPK has called his trusted associates have become suspects in a bribery case involving the processing of Building Use Rights (HGB).

However, three events this week need to be read as a single complete painting, not separate pieces. Besides the reshuffle at the palace, there is Jokowi's political safari with PSI and the Constitutional Court hearing on the candidacy requirements for Gibran Rakabuming Raka. This combination shows that maneuvers toward 2029 began long before the official election stages.

"Our politics today shows two suns that both shine, need each other, but quietly prepare their own orbits," wrote Mudhofir Abdullah, a lecturer and researcher, in his column.

In the language of political science, this kind of pattern is called hedging: remaining dependent on each other while preparing one's own exit. A Javanese proverb reminds us, ora ana ratu loro ing sakjagad—there are no two kings in one world. Yet today's political reality instead displays two centers of gravity shining simultaneously.

For the public, the question is not merely who sits in which seat. More important is whether this configuration will accelerate or instead complicate the structural reform agenda, especially in the energy sector and law enforcement. Investors and market players will certainly scrutinize whether concurrent posts in strategic ministries affect regulatory certainty.

Going forward, the Constitutional Court hearing on Gibran's candidacy requirements could become a turning point. If the ruling changes the candidacy landscape, then the 2029 coalition map could shift faster than expected. The big question: will these two suns continue to shine side by side, or will one slowly sink the other?