President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono has grabbed more power and control of state assets by appointing his close aides to key ministerial posts during the Cabinet reshuffle, and in the process has managed to trick the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and maintain the support of the Golkar Party.

After weeks of drama that have witnessed the tears and smiles of outgoing and incoming ministers, Yudhoyono told the public on Tuesday evening that he had reshuffled the Cabinet for the good of the country, while stressing that he had reduced by one the number of ministerial posts held by his Democratic Party members; in what may have been a message to the PKS, who also lost one post, to accept the hand that was dealt to them.

However, while the Democratic Party did lose one ministerial post, Yudhoyono’s party members grabbed a monopoly on the nation’s most strategic posts, including state-owned enterprises minister, trade minister, energy and mineral resources minister and law and human rights minister, prompting accusations that the President’s agenda had been to secure funding for the 2014 elections at the expense of appointing capable candidates to run the country.

There were also debate as to why Yudhoyono did not boot several ministers who have been implicated in high-profile corruption cases.

“There is no chance that this Cabinet will be better in any way,” Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political analyst J. Kristiadi said after the new Cabinet announcement.

Kristiadi cited the appointment of former culture and tourism minister Jero Wacik as the new energy and mineral resources minister and former administrative reforms minister E.E. Mangindaan as the new transportation minister as examples of the President’s blatant power mongering.

“Are those two really competent at those posts? It was just Yudho-yono’s trick to keep lucrative ministries under his full control,” he said.

With no expertise nor experience in energy and mineral resources, Jero’s appointment was seen as a move to ensure that the ministry, which reaps a massive portion of the state’s revenue, continues to serve the interests of those in power.

Kristiadi judged that Yudhoyono’s public announcement that he had reduced the number of ministers from his Democratic Party, from six to five, was merely “a tactic”, most likely aimed at the PKS, which lost some crucial ministerial posts.

Golkar retained three of its members in the Cabinet but saw former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries minister Fadel Muhammad dismissed. Fadel was replaced by Golkar deputy chairman Syarif Cicip Sutardjo.

Given Golkar’s influential political power at the House of Representatives, Yudhoyono may have seen Golkar’s support as crucial to securing his remaining three years in office.

Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, who had been rumored to have been let go at Golkar’s request, retained his position.

The appointments of Gita Wirjawan as trade minister and Dahlan Iskan as state-owned enterprises minister were seen as part of Yudhoyono’s attempts to “secure” strategic posts, as the two have close relations with the President and his family.

Dahlan’s new position oversees hundreds of state-owned enterprises, which, according to Indonesian Institute of Sciences political expert Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, are potential cash cows for the 2014 election.

While Yudhoyono has paid great attention to maintaining the political balance in his Cabinet, the reshuffle has also reflected his concern for retaining regional representation.

The appointment of Balthasar Kambuaya, rector of Jayapura-based state Cendrawasih University as environment minister, for example, will ensure Papuan representation in the Cabinet after the departure of former transportation minister Freddy Numberi. Gusti M. Hatta, who represents Kalimantan, was appointed research and technology minister.

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