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PDI-P wants ministers to work harder
Puan Maharani - JP/Jerry AdigunaLeaders of the provincial executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) held a meeting with President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo on Wednesday during which they urged the President to motivate his ministers to work harder
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Puan Maharani - JP/Jerry Adiguna
Leaders of the provincial executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) held a meeting with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on Wednesday during which they urged the President to motivate his ministers to work harder.
Leaders of 33 provincial executive boards of the ruling party arrived at the State Palace on Wednesday afternoon and met with Jokowi amid growing speculation that the President might reshuffle his Cabinet in the near future.
However, PDI-P executive and senior politician Olly Dondokambey denied the meeting was part of the PDI-P's move to pressure Jokowi into carrying out a reshuffle. Olly said that the meeting did not touch on the reshuffle plan and only discussed issues related to local politics.
Olly also said that during the meeting, the 33 local party leaders told Jokowi that several ministries, including public works and public housing, health and trade, had yet to provide governors nationwide with technical guidance.
'Well, we encourage the President to push his ministers so that local governments can do their work,' he said. 'No, there was no advice [on a reshuffle].'
Olly said the meeting had been scheduled long before speculation emerged about the planned Cabinet reshuffle.
He also said that Jokowi planned to hold such a meeting regularly.
'Well, it's better to provide him with the correct information about conditions in local areas because we support the President,' he added.
Also at present at Wednesday's meeting was Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, who is also the daughter of PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Puan said she worked as an intermediary between the President and the local PDI-P executives.
Puan also denied that the meeting was aimed at providing Jokowi with input for the reshuffle or his ongoing regular evaluations of the performance of ministers.
'No, there was no such discussion [about evaluation of the Cabinet]. The local leaders gave input on areas where synergy needed to be built between the central government's programs and the 34 provinces,' she said.
Puan also said that it was Jokowi's prerogative to carry out a Cabinet reshuffle.
When asked if the PDI-P could put pressure on Jokowi on the reshuffle plan, Puan said, 'the person who can propose [a name for the Cabinet] is the party chair, so don't ask us about it'.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said earlier this week that a Cabinet reshuffle was looming. Many have speculated that Jokowi would replace some of his ministers after the Idul Fitri holiday.
Politicians and political analysts expect Jokowi to replace ministers, specifically those overseeing the economy, for their poor handling of the country's economic issues.
Executives from political parties in both the ruling Great Indonesia Coalition and opposition Red-and-White Coalition have agreed that while the performance of ministers in politics and law enforcement was good, leadership changes within ministries dealing with economic affairs was crucial.
