TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democratic Party spokesperson Herzaky Mahendra Putra said the party's chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono or AHY is ready to fulfill his duties as a minister if President Joko Widodo or Jokowi calls upon him.

“He is a soldier. He always dedicates his life to the nation and state,” Herzaky confirmed to Tempo on Tuesday, February 20.

The possibility of AHY joining Jokowi's current cabinet emerged as the President was reportedly set to inaugurate Hadi Tjahjanto as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs on February 21. Hadi currently serves as Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning.

A source at the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning confirmed that the inauguration will take place at the Jakarta State Palace on Wednesday.

The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs is currently led by a definitive minister, Tito Karnavian, after Mahfud Md resigned on February 2, 2024, for the presidential election. Tito serves as Minister of Home Affairs.

If everything goes to plan, the position of Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning will be vacant. Herzaky said the cabinet reshuffle is the President's prerogative, and the Democrats respect Jokowi’s decision.

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana have yet to respond to Tempo's request for confirmation on the matter.

The Democratic Party led by AHY has been in opposition to the government during President Jokowi's nearly 10 years in office. Recently, the Democrats joined parties supporting Jokowi to nominate Prabowo Subianto for the 2024 presidential election.

Prabowo, the Defense Minister in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, was running for the presidency with Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The pair is on track to win the election based on the General Election Commission's (KPU) real count as of 12 p.m. Tuesday, February 20.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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