Reshuffle Issue, Observer Says Jokowi Will Consider Position of Trade Minister and PAN

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Rumors of an overhaul (reshuffle) cabinet by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) blows back. According to Indonesian Political Indicator researcher Bawono Kumoro, if a reshuffle will occur, Jokowi will consider two things, namely the position of the President. Minister of Commerce Muhammad Lutfi | and accommodate National Mandate Party (PAN).

According to Bawono, if Jokowi uses performance parameters, then Lutfi’s position as Trade Minister should be evaluated and there is a high possibility that he will be replaced.

“If you consider performance achievements, of course, minister of commerce needs to be evaluated because of the cooking oil problem for the last few months,” Bawono said to Kompas.com, Tuesday (22/3/2022).

In addition, continued Bawono, if Jokowi chooses to prioritize PAN getting a place in the cabinet after proclaiming his support for the government last year, it will depend on the internal conditions of the coalition.

Also read: Bima Arya: PAN will get ministerial and deputy ministerial seats if there is a reshuffle

“This really depends on the internal dynamics of the coalition. The extent to which the political parties in the coalition are willing to accept PAN,” said Bawono.

Bawono said, as a member of the coalition, PAN certainly hopes to get a position in the cabinet. This makes Jokowi have a strong reason to do a reshuffle to accommodate PAN.

According to Bawono, if Jokowi decides to reduce the allotted seats from coalition parties in order to accommodate PAN, then he estimates it will be vulnerable to disrupting the coalition’s internal solidity and has the potential to raise various political problems in the cabinet in the future.

PAN stated that it supports Jokowi’s government through the PAN II National Working Meeting (Rakernas) on August 31, 2021. However, until now, PAN has not been able to get a position in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.

Also read: Democrats: Reshuffle is more appropriate than begging to ask for postponement of elections

The discourse on the entry of PAN into the cabinet was first conveyed by a politician from the National Awakening Party, Luqman Hakim. Luqman said, if the reshuffle occurred at the end of March 2022, PAN would get one ministerial seat plus a deputy minister.

The issue became even stronger after PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan met with President Joko Widodo Jokowi some time ago.

However, when confirmed, Zulkifli denied discussing the reshuffle with Jokowi. According to the Deputy Speaker of the MPR, cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of the president.

Zulkifli said PAN did not interfere in the issue of discourse cabinet reshuffle.

PAN politician Bima Arya Sugiarto actually confirmed that his party would get one ministerial and deputy ministerial seat if the cabinet reshuffle discourse materialized.

Also read: Surya Paloh: As long as the President considers the wheels of government to be effective, I’m not sure there will be a reshuffle

Regarding the appointment of party cadres who will be proposed as ministers or deputy ministers in the event of a reshuffle, Bima said that PAN’s internal circles agreed to hand over the matter to Zulkifli.

Bima said that PAN has a number of cadres who are considered to have good abilities to fill positions in the New Indonesia Cabinet. In addition, he said his party is also ready if the reshuffle discourse materializes.

Until now, a Kompas.com source at the Palace stated that there was no agenda or plan related to the reshuffle.

“There is no reshuffle schedule yet,” said the source when confirmed.

Also read: Reluctant to Comment on the End of March Reshuffle Issue, Nasdem: That’s the President’s Authority

On Sunday last week, the Special Staff of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), Faldo Maldini said that the issue of the reshuffle or reshuffle of President Joko Widodo’s cabinet was a political gossip that always existed before Pon Wednesday.

“About the dismantling of this cabinet. If there is always political gossip ahead of Wednesday Pon. That’s the faith of political people, so it’s normal,” said Faldo at the time.

(Author : Dian Erika Nugraheny/ Editor : Egidius Patnistik)

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