Who replaces who, according to a Democratic Party member

Five new minister candidates signed work contracts and integrity pacts with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday, and underwent medical checkups on Tuesday. But this sparks the question, where will the replaced ministers go?

Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan, for example, has been reportedly appointed to become the new trade minister, replacing Mari Elka Pangestu.

Where Mari will go then? Democratic Party senior politician Ahmad Mubarok said, based on news from internal sources, that Mari would be appointed as the new tourism and creative economy minister, replacing current Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.

“Jero will be the new energy and mineral resources minister,” Ahmad said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com on Tuesday.

However, Ahmad stopped short at mentioning where the current Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh will likely go, but earlier news reports suggested Darwin would be likely dismissed from the Cabinet.

Former Aceh deputy governor Azwar Abubakar was among the five, besides Gita, summoned to sign the ministerial work contract on Monday. Azwar is said to have been appointed as the new administrative reforms minister, replacing Democratic Party member E. E. Mangindaan.

“Mangindaan will be the new transportation minister,” Ahmad said.

The current Transportation Minister, Freddy Numberi, also a Democratic Party politician, will also likely be dismissed from the Cabinet, because of family issues.

Ahmad said another present Cabinet member who may be affected by the reshuffle is Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, who is also the chairman of United Development Party (PPP), a member of the Democratic Party-led government coalition.

Ahmad did not mention why, but said National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh would likely replace Suryadharma.

Citing an anonymous source, tempointeraktif.com said Suryadharma would probably replace Golkar Party member Agung Laksono, the current Coordinating Public Welfare Minister. Agung will also likely be dismissed from the Cabinet after Golkar withdrew its support for him.

Yudhoyono is scheduled to announce the results of the ongoing Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday evening, and inaugurate the new Cabinet members on Wednesday.