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National scene: With Jokowi's nod, Puan bends Cabinet rules
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani has won approval from President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to keep her new position as Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy chairperson for political and security affairs
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oordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani has won approval from President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to keep her new position as Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy chairperson for political and security affairs.
'I have been declared by the PDI-P chairwoman as inactive. After being installed, I will be suspended or declared inactive immediately,' she said after attending a limited Cabinet meeting at the State Palace on Monday evening.
Puan, who is Megawati's daughter from her marriage to the late Taufiq Kiemas, stressed that she was not working two jobs. 'There is no double job because I am inactive. Jokowi has banned Cabinet members from maintaining formal party positions.
The appointment of Puan ' widely deemed inexperienced and under-qualified ' to the post of coordinating minister for human development and culture was seen as a token of gratitude for the PDI-P's support of Jokowi's presidential campaign last year.
Puan said the President and the Vice President understood her position in the party.
Separately, executive director of PolMark Indonesia, Eko Bambang Subiantoro, criticized the move.
'It is impossible for Puan to do the two jobs simultaneously,' he said, adding that although Puan would be inactive, it would be impossible for her not to work for the party in her new role.
