Jokowi Will No Longer Be Dictated to Tap Ministers, Says Observer

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A political observer Adi Prayitno opined that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi on his second term would be more independent in choosing his ministers. Because, his victory was attributable to help from volunteers, besides from political parties, and so he would all-out fulfilling his promises.

“So, he will choose a minister who has full power in realizing his desire, not a minister who eventually becomes a parasite on the next development. Therefore, Jokowi will be impossible to be dictated by his supporting parties,” said Adi when contacted on Monday, June 10.

According to Adi, Jokowi would not bet for his second term by recruiting incompetent ministers. Moreover, his campaign promises in the 2019 presidential election were quite specific regarding human resources development especially in the economic sector, employment absorption, and curbing unemployment.

Read: Jokowi-Prabowo Must Simply Meet, Not Reconcile: Expert

Adi, who is also the executive director of Parameter Politik Indonesia, predicted the establishment of the new cabinet would be more dynamic, and Jokowi would reshuffle his cabinet after the inauguration in October, instead of the near future.

“Unless there is a minister who is named suspect by KPK (anti-graft body) before October, Jokowi will possibly run a [cabinet] reshuffle. Without such an incident, a reshuffle is just a figment as the time is short,” Adi added.

At present, several political parties supporting Jokowi blatantly demanded a minister’s seat. Golkar has even released names to be submitted to the President.

Additionally, a number of figures, including the steering committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Ahmad Syafii Maarif suggested Jokowi apply zaken cabinet. “A cabinet that consists of experts,” said Maarif after meeting the President in Merdeka Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, Thursday, May 9.

DEWI NURITA