Party executives strong candidates for next Cabinet

Executive members of political parties that are part of President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party coalition are strong candidates for the next cabinet, an expert has said.

Fachry Ali, a political expert from the University of Indonesia said that there were only a few professional from the party eligible to run “technical” ministerial posts.

“Executives from parties should be posted in non-technical ministerial seats,” he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The Democratic Party’s coalition includes the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and National Awakening Party (PKB).

Fachry said that the former and current chairmen of the PKS, Hidayat Nurwahid and Tifatul Sembiring, were strong candidates for ministerial positions in the next Cabinet.

“Economist Zulkiefliemasyah, who is a member of PKS, is eligible for technical posts like the Ministry of Industrial Affairs,” he said.

Fachry said that economists Didik Rahbini and Drajat Wibowo from the PAN were strong potential candidates.

“The party’s secretary general, Zulkifli Hassan, who is also a businessman, could be potential candidate in addition to the incumbent State Secretary Minister, Hatta Radjasa,” he said.

Fachry said that the leaders of the PPP, Suryadharma Ali and Bachtiar Chamsyah, had a good chance of being appointed in the next cabinet for political reasons.

“I strongly recommend Suharso Monoarfa, who is now legislator from the PPP, to sit in the cabinet,” he said.

From the PKB, potential ministers include chairman Muhaimin Iskandar.