TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Jokowi Widodo should not turn cabinet seats into political bargaining chips. Rumors of a cabinet reshuffle are now indicating political horse-trading. There are widespread reports that the plan to replace ministers is not based on evaluations of their performance, but on political concessions.
The plan was triggered by the National Mandate Party (PAN), which is seen as wayward. The party was awarded the position of minister for the empowerment and reform of the bureaucracy, which was filled by Asman Abnur. Asman's position is now under threat after PAN took a critical stance toward the Presidential Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu) on Mass Organizations and the Elections Law.
Political sanctions against PAN might bring the parties backing the government into line. But this could also disrupt the work of the cabinet. Jokowi has twice reshuffled his cabinet, in August 2015 and July 2016. Reshuffle plans always cause a political upset.
The rumors were fueled further during the deliberations of the election bill at the House of Representatives (DPR) in mid-July. The Palace gave the impression of using the reshuffle rumors for two aims simultaneously: testing the loyalty of the parties backing the government and trying to win over 'opposition' parties. The Democrat Party, which has been outside the government, is reported to have been offered a cabinet seat.
PAN is in a difficult position because its political interests are different from those of Jokowi's agenda. The party was critical of the Mass Organizations Perpu because Muslims are its support base. PAN was also unable to support the criteria for the nomination of presidential candidates in the latest Elections Law. Jokowi clearly wants the requirement of 20 percent of DPR seats or 25 percent of the vote in the legislative election for parties or groupings of parties proposing a presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.
Senior PAN figures expressed their party's objections not to the condition for nominating a presidential candidate, but to the Sainte-Lagu divisor method the way the legislative votes are calculated. This new method, which tends to disadvantage the smaller parties, was included as part of the provision requiring 20 percent of seats to nominate a presidential candidate during the DPR debate.
Jokowi's political style also invited consolidation of the forces outside the government. After failing to derail the presidential threshold in the DPR, Democrat Party founder Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Gerindra Party founder Prabowo Subianto joined forces. They threatened to launch a challenge to the presidential threshold clause at the Constitutional Court.
Jokowi's efforts to shore up his political support should be undertaken carefully. He must also hold democracy and the law in high esteem. There is now the impression that even law enforcement is facing political intervention. A businessman who is also a senior politician suddenly met with a senior government official after being named a suspect by police. He then declared his willingness to back the candidacy of Jokowi in the 2019 elections.
It is not right using political reasons as the basis for a cabinet reshuffle. Jokowi should keep his decision guided only by the performance of his ministers. Consolidation of Jokowi's supporting parties can be carried out by other means. The president should prioritize other matters that are under the spotlight such as upholding human rights, solving the attacks on the Corruption Eradication Commission or boosting the sluggish economy.
Real achievements are important assets for Jokowi if he wants to stand in the 2019 elections, not political moves that cause unrest.
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