From Ahok to Anies: Politics of Environment Protection and Public Spaces Development in Jakarta Kurniawati Hastuti Dewi {kurniawatihastutidewi@gmail.com} Center for Political Stdies, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jl. Gatot Subroto 10, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia Abstract. Nowadays, the special capital region of Jakarta (Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, DKI Jakarta) faces challenges for providing safe living environment and inclusive public space. This paper analyses how’s the governor of DKI Jakarta uses environment protection and public space development as political narratives. It analysis the concept of “Ruang Publik Terpadu Ramah Anak” (RPTRA, child friendly integrated public space) introduced by Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok, 2014-2017), and “Taman Maju Bersama” (TMB, going forward garden) introduced by Governor Anies Baswedan (Anies, 2017-2022). Ahok’s concept of RPTRA uses top down approach, whereas Anies’ TMB uses bottom up approach with collaborative acts with local community. This paper reveals that procedurally, participatory approach in urban governance has been taken into account more in TMB rather than in RPTRA concept. TMB is more prospectus to be developed into a new social movement, though it is currently still far achieved. Keywords: politics, environment protection, public space, social movement, urban governance. 1 Introduction The Special Capital Region of Jakarta (Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, DKI Jakarta) is special area that functions as the capital of Indonesia and autonomous regions at the provincial level according to the Law No 24/2007. DKI Jakarta is one of 35 provinces in Indonesia. It is located in the northwest of Java Island. The population of DKI Jakarta in 2017 based on projections of the 2010 Population Census was 10.374.235 inhabitants with the population growth rate of 0.94 percent per year [1]. DKI Jakarta is divided into one administrative district and five administrative cities in which each was led by mayor. Important political momentum occurred in the 2012 election in DKI Jakarta. The pair of Jokowi-Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) won the 2012 election of DKI Jakarta, defeated Foke as the incumbent. Jokowi-Ahok becomes Governor of DKI Jakarta 2012-2017. While serving his governorship, Jokowi was then nominated as Presidential candidates in the 2014 Presidential Elections. As Jokowi won the 2014 Presidential election, Ahok automatically becomes Governor of DKI Jakarta 2014-2017. Ahok then, was then defeated by the pair of Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno in the 2017 DKI Jakarta Gubernatorial election. Thus, now Anies Baswedan is Governor of DKI Jakarta 2017-2022. ICSPS 2019, November 12, Jakarta, Indonesia Copyright © 2020 EAI DOI 10.4108/eai.12-11-2019.2293518