O

strong>Oct. 23, p1

President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo should be able to break free from the pressures imposed on him by political parties, since he enjoys considerable support from the public as well as from other forces in the administration.

Your comments:

In quote: '€œJokowi has successfully gathered support from volunteers and people during his successful presidential campaign and this has become his strongest political asset.

He, of course, must use this to increase his leverage against political party leaders, including Megawati Soekarnoputri,'€ Cecep said, referring to the former president and chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).'€

Unfortunately the article or the source is quite vague on exactly how popular support lends itself to Megawati. Let'€™s not forget this is a country where political partisanship, no matter how noble the intention or objective is, traditionally gets frustrated and horse trading is the way to go.

Yudhoyono'€™s reforms were hamstrung by appeasement. Abdurrahman '€œGus Dur'€ Wahid was impeached for going against the People'€™s Consultative Assembly. Now Jokowi runs the same risk unless he can whip or win the DPR to support his programs.

Can you please quote a source who offers something more ingenious than grassroots support? E.g. how Jokowi can appeal to the public to connect with the House'€™s members and force them to step aside.

Or how he can use existing executive power, conferred to him by existing laws to further his goals?

Ngukzilla

All the best and success for Jokowi! It will be difficult for him to choose non-political persons, experts instead, but it is the only guarantee to be successful!

He should not forget that he is the people'€™s President '€“ everyone'€™s '€“ rich and poor.

Herozip
Reuters