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Prabowo denies reports ministerial posts given to Gerindra
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto meet before a press conference in the backyard of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta recently. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
G
erindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto has denied a statement earlier made by party deputy chairman Arif Poyuono, which claimed the party had been offered four ministerial positions by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"We are ready to assist the government. Should everyone join the administration, then, who will be the critics? Who will monitor [the government’s performance)?" Prabowo asked rhetorically as quoted by tribunnews.com at the Jakarta International Expo center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.
According to Prabowo, there should be a division of roles between those who run the country and those who ensure checks and balances on the former are in place.
When asked to comment about his deputy's claim about the four ministerial seats, he quipped. "I don't know where he got that information. Probably, he wants to become a minister himself," he joked.
(Read also: Gerindra may soon join ruling coalition)
Arief said earlier that he received a tipoff from an unnamed presidential aide that the Jokowi administration was planning a Cabinet reshuffle in which Gerindra would be offered four ministerial seats: coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, agriculture minister, manpower minister and presidential office chief of staff.
The State Palace has denied a Cabinet shake-up is imminent, but several political parties say they have received credible information that the President is looking to dismiss several lacklustre-performing ministers and also to consolidate power following two mass demonstrations in Jakarta late last year. (dmr)
