President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) met with the General Chairperson of the NasDem Party Surya Paloh at the State Palace in the midst of the issue reshuffle cabinet tightens. Political observers believe that the meeting could be a momentum for Jokowi and Paloh’s political ‘reconciliation’.
“First, this meeting confirmed that Jokowi and Surya Paloh can still communicate with each other. Unlike what has been perceived so far, the two are in tension and estrangement,” said Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters (PPI) Adi Prayitno to reporters, Friday (27/1/2023 ).
“This could be a momentum for ‘political reconciliation’ between Jokowi and Surya Paloh. At a minimum, the meeting of these two figures can stretch the political muscles and nerves which have recently begun to harden one another,” he added.
According to Adi, many things were discussed by Jokowi and Paloh at the meeting. Among them, he added, regarding the nomination of Anies Baswedan to reshuffle cabinet.
“Starting with matters of national politics, coalitions, presidential nominations, and questions reshuffle. The hottest discussion version of the public’s guess is of course about Anies’ nomination by NasDem and surrounding areas reshuffle. Two issues that make Jokowi and Surya’s relationship often rumored to be tenuous,” he explained.
Reshuffle cabinet, said Adi, is Jokowi’s prerogative. However, Adi said that Jokowi would also be in a dilemma because PDIP openly asked 2 NasDem ministers to be evaluated.
“The PDIP has firmly asked the 2 NasDem ministers to be evaluated. This is a very vulgar political message to Jokowi that the PDIP is not happy with the NasDem maneuvers so far, especially regarding Anies’ nomination. Meanwhile, at the same time, NasDem did not want to back down and emphasized its loyalty to Jokowi to the end. Even if the minister is removed, NasDem will ensure that they are loyal to Jokowi,” he explained.
Adi assesses that currently Jokowi is at a crossroads. he judged reshuffle cabinet is still unclear.
“Jokowi seems to be in a dilemma, being at a very complicated crossroads. Between listening to pressure reshuffle from PDIP or see the unlimited loyalty of NasDem. So, about reshuffle still pitch black. Jokowi and Surya Paloh’s meeting indicated that their relationship could still be saved,” he said.
“The probability (reshuffle) still 50:50 even pitch black. This meeting confirmed two things at once. One side conveyed the possibility reshuffle to the NasDem minister, one side emphasized that there was none reshuffle whatever,” he said.
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