Amid speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung acknowledged that President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo would soon be meeting the leaders of parties within the pro-government Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH)
mid speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung acknowledged that President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo would soon be meeting the leaders of parties within the pro-government Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH).
However, Pramono denied the meeting would be anything other than a regular meeting of pro-government parties.
'Whether the prerogative [to reshuffle the Cabinet] will be used by the President, or when, only the President and the Vice President know,' Pramono said on Wednesday.
'But the President will certainly meet with the leaders of parties under the KIH. Only the President knows when and where it will be held. The meeting is part of [a regular] schedule. It is supposed to be held at the beginning of each month but it has been two months [since the last meeting],' Pramono added.
According to Pramono, the routine meeting will discuss current social and political issues and the state budget.
Speculation over a Cabinet shake-up has been rife since September, following the National Mandate Party's (PAN) decision to partner with the government ' a maneuver that analysts believe might result in ministerial posts in Jokowi's administration for the party.
On Tuesday, fresh speculation came to the surface after PAN's chairman Zulkifli Hasan was invited to attend a state banquet held for the visiting Finnish president at the State Palace, although Zulkifli's presence at the event was as chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
'Zulkifli was invited in his capacity as the MPR speaker. There were no talks [about a reshuffle]. If the two [Zulkifli and Jokowi discussed it] in a whisper; how could I know about it?' Pramono said.
That day, a number of executives at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)-led KIH reportedly also held a meeting at the residence of PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The PDI-P has denied speculation that the meeting discussed the Cabinet shake-up.
Other than Pramono, a number of officials at the Palace have previously denied the reshuffle rumors, saying that the President was still focusing on the country's development agenda.
There is further speculation that PAN's Advisory Council chairman Soetrisno Bachir might also be given a seat on a new government body called the national economic and industry committee ' a body whose creation is currently being considered by Jokowi to replace the National Economic Committee.
PAN's decision to support Jokowi was widely predicted following Jokowi's presence at the party's national congress in May, which resulted in the election of Zulkifli as party chairman.
Opposition political parties have been weakened over the past few months as a result of a prolonged internal conflict within the Golkar Party, the leading opposition party, as well as the lack of control over policies drafted by the government.
PAN's move to join the government was followed by Golkar, whose two conflicting camps have agreed to reconcile, suggesting that the party would support the Jokowi administration.
Another opposition party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is currently holding a national meeting, has also expressed the intention to be 'loyal' to the government.
Neither Golkar nor the PKS, however, have directly stated that they are leaving the opposition caucus.
The parties have also denied suggestions that they expected ministerial posts in Jokowi's Cabinet.
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