PAN Demands Three Ministerial Posts After Ditching the Opposition
2 September 2015 16:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Deputy Secretary General for the National Mandate Party (PAN), Soni Sumarsono, said that PAN is in the middle of negotiating three positions in President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's Working Cabinet, in light of PAN's decision to join the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH).
"A political party with as much sway as PAN will get at least three seats in Jokowi's Cabinet - one is simply impossible," said Sumarsono at the Parliament Complex on Wednesday, September 2, 2015.
Effective Wednesday, PAN will officially be a part of the ruling coalition - although rumours of PAN's shift away from the Red and White Coalition (KMP) has been rife since a couple of months ago. The move was made official by a statement made by PAN's Chairman, Zulkifli Hasan, who conveyed the message to President Joko Widodo on Wednesday.
It is known that Zulkifli came to the President's Palace at approximately 11.20 Jakarta time, along with Hanura Party's Chairman, Wiranto. The visit came as a bit of a surprise as President Joko Widodo was not schedule to meet with neither Wiranto nor Zulkifli.
It is known that PAN was a fervent supporter of the opposition since the start of last year's Presidential election - but under Zulkifli's tenure, the party's began to gravitate towards the ruling coalitions.
One of PAN's Board Member, Yandri Susanti, said that PAN's decision to join the administration is not due to ministerial offers. "We have decided to jump ships to help solve the country's problems," she said to Tempo.
PUTRI ADITYOWATI