TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Feri Amsari, a researcher at the Constitution Study Center of Andalas University, viewed the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has put the interest of the party above the government’s that it supports by including Puan Maharani in the party’s executive board.

“Puan should be assigned as party’s official at the government’s institution. Therefore, she should not be burdened with tasks from the party,” Feri said on Friday, April 10, 2015.

According to Feri, PDI-P chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri should have appointed non-minister official for the party, despite a decision to deactivate Puan as the party’s head of political and security division.

Feri argued that the decision reflected PDI-P’s attempt to establish a political dynasty since the party’s regeneration was based on family line instead of performance. Feri called on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to stick on his policy banning his staff from having a double role as ministers and party officials.

“If the president did not take a firm action, he would be considered as a low level official of the party who could not do anything against his supporting parties,” Feri added.

Fery suggested that Jokowi must replace the minister who is appointed as a party’s official through a cabinet reshuffle.

In response to the double role issue, Megawati has told Jokowi that a party member could not be discharged for being appointed as a government official.

ANDRI EL FARUQI|ANANDA TERESIA