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Dems seek Cabinet positions
The Democratic Partyâs about-face in rejecting the proposal to end the direct elections of local heads could have been a calculated move to secure seats in the Cabinet of president-elect Joko âJokowiâ Widodo
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he Democratic Party's about-face in rejecting the proposal to end the direct elections of local heads could have been a calculated move to secure seats in the Cabinet of president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.
Speculation is rife that the Democratic Party's maneuvering for positions in the Cabinet intensified after it was reported that Jokowi would leave two seats in his Cabinet open for parties from the rival Red-and-White Coalition.
Following Democratic Party chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's announcement on Sunday that his party would support direct elections, other party executives have continued to tout the stance.
Democratic Party ethics council chairman Amir Syamsuddin, who is also the Law and Human Rights Minister, said that his party had been firm in its decision to maintain direct local elections.
'Yes, we [support the] direct mechanism [of local elections], but as he [Yudhoyono] has said in a YouTube clip we must make efforts to prevent the negative excesses of direct elections,' Amir said on Wednesday.
Numerous media reports said that the party's secretary general, Edhie 'Ibas' Baskoro Yudhoyono, who is Yudhoyono's son, had made similar remarks.
A source within the coalition of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said talks had been going on between executives of the PDI-P and the Democratic Party to discuss the possibility of a meeting between Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The source said that the possible inclusion of the Democratic Party in the ruling coalition led by the PDI-P hinged on the mending of the strained relationship between Megawati and Yudhoyono.
'SBY has indicated the party's stance on direct elections. This opens the door for the Democratic Party to join the coalition,' the source said.
The source said that Yudhoyono had agreed to have a meeting with Megawati and the only problem now was how to sell the proposal to the PDI-P chairperson, who has maintained a grudge against Yu-dhoyono since he succeeded her as President in 2004.
In an apparent move to reach out to Yudhoyono, Jokowi had earlier urged the outgoing President to withdraw the plan to amend the direct election law, arguing that the nation would be able to resolve the problems that come with direct elections.
- Democratic Party is expected to get seats in Cabinet
- Reward for party's about-face in direct elections saga
In what many considered to be Jokowi finally caving in to demands from political parties, the president-elect had decided to include more politicians in his Cabinet.
Jokowi told a short press briefing on Monday that his Cabinet would consist of 34 ministries, which would be led by 16 party politicians and 18 non-party professionals.
The Monday evening announcement could be seen as the culmination of Jokowi's effort to placate members of his coalition, the PDI-P, the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Hanura Party and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) ' all of which have demanded roles in his administration.
Jokowi is also struggling to woo support from other political parties, notably from the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) in order for his administration to gain majority support in the House of Representatives.
The Golkar Party ' one of the Prabowo Subianto-led Red-and-White Coalition members ' reiterated its stance that none of its members would take the offer from Jokowi to join his Cabinet.
'One thing is for sure, none [will be] representing Golkar in the Cabinet,' said Agung Laksono, Golkar Party deputy chairman and Coordinating People's Welfare Minister. 'We will be outside the government [of Jokowi], so we will have no problems if we don't have seats in the Cabinet,' he said.
The United Development Party's (PPP) deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa said that the party's representatives would attend the PDI-P national assembly meeting in Semarang, scheduled for Friday.
Meanwhile, Jokowi said that he would favor female candidates with integrity and strong leadership qualities for his Cabinet.
Jokowi said that although he had no plan to implement affirmative action to put women into his Cabinet, he already had a list of qualified women who could be members.
'We don't set a limit in terms of numbers. We will involve as many women as possible, regardless of their backgrounds, in the Cabinet,'Jokowi said.
