TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democrat Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has promised not to interfere president-elect Joko Widodo in deciding his cabinet and will fully support Jokowi’s strategy in selecting ministers.
“Chairwoman Megawati Soekanoputri has agreed to support,” PDI-P politician Eva Kusuma Sundari told Tempo on Sunday.
One of Jokowi’s approved decisions is prohibiting supporting party’s chairmen and executives to be in the cabinet. According to Eva, the decision is rational because ministers should focus on their duties.
“It’s difficult for ministers to think about affairs of political parties,” she said.
Eva continued that as a solution, officials of supporting parties including the PDIP can resign from their position in the party if appointed as minister. However, Eva said that professionals must also do the same thing.
“For businessmen, they should leave their business for a while. The same also applies to members of NGOs and other organizations so that it is fair for all,” she said.
Joko Widodo has not revealed the cabinet will help him for the next five years. The former Surakarta Mayor has established a transition team to expedite government transition from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
INDRA WIJAYA
