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strong>Sept. 16, Online

 President-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s decision to award 16 seats in his Cabinet to political party members has drawn criticism, with some saying that Jokowi has failed to form the politically impartial Cabinet he promised.

Senior political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, (LIPI) Syamsuddin Haris, said that the Jakarta governor succumbed to the pressure of the political parties supporting him, his party'€™s (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P) chairperson, Megawati Soekarnoputri and his running mate, Jusuf Kalla.

'€œWe witnessed in Jokowi'€™s announcement last night that he faced great challenges in trying to form his ideal Cabinet. His Cabinet is similar to the previous one [consisting of 34 ministries],'€ Syamsudin said.

Your comments:

As president-elect, he has the prerogative to nominate who shall be his Cabinet members whether they are politicians or technocrats.

Midi Johnek

I suppose even if Jokowi wants to keep to his promise of only having technocrats in his cabinet, we must also realize the dynamics of Indonesian politics.

The power brokers would still need to be rewarded for their role in making it possible for Jokowi to be where he is today.

As long as these political appointees toe the line, it'€™s OK. It is up to the people to make sure they perform. Ministers should have monthly town-hall type meetings where they face citizens and field questions.

Malam

As long as the candidates are capable, it is no matter that 16 ministerial posts are filled from political parties.

Resi Adiyasa

Well, that'€™s just a statement of the obvious. But the real point is, how disappointed the people of this country who voted for him will feel if they see that it'€™s just more of the same - political appointees '€” '€œyou scratch my back, I'€™ll scratch your back,'€ etc.

People were really expecting something new, honest, fresh, inspirational and so on. Not just a load of party grandees enjoying being ministers (with all the nice perks that go with the job!).

Of course Jokowi has got no choice '€” and little power unless he can somehow control the House.

So, his supporters are going to be disappointed. For example, he'€™s already dumped the idea of seriously tackling human-rights cases.

It is now clear that there will not be the new, different, fresh-minded etc. government that so many people had yearned for - instead it will be five years of more of the same. The old elite class can sit back and take it easy - business as usual!

Terry McAsee