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Working Cabinet 2.0: Who’s likely in and who’s likely out?
Given that Puan Maharani and Yasonna Laoly both resigned from the Cabinet to take up their seats in the new House, a reshuffle is all but certain. However, the composition of this Working Cabinet 2.0 is less certain.
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Given that Puan Maharani and Yasonna Laoly both resigned from the Cabinet to take up their seats in the new House, a reshuffle is all but certain. However, the composition of this Working Cabinet 2.0 is less certain. (JP/File)
O
ver the past few weeks, Indonesia has been dogged by a number of controversies. Ranging from the revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, the draft Criminal Code, student demonstrations and even unrest in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, such controversies have grabbed the nation’s attention.
However, following the swearing-in ceremony for House of Representatives members for 2019-2024, it is timely to revisit the issue of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s new Cabinet. Given that Puan Maharani and Yasonna Laoly both resigned from the Cabinet to take up their seats in the new House, a reshuffle is all but certain. However, the composition of this Working Cabinet 2.0 is less certain.
Four factors are likely to be key. First are opposition parties’ maneuverings for a place on the proverbial table. Jokowi has entertained the idea of a “unity government” that encompasses as many political parties as possible including those that opposed his run for the presidency.
This was made clear when the President cryptically posted on social media the Javanese proverb Lamun sira sekti, aja mateni (Even though you are powerful, do not knock others down). Several months ago, long-time rival Prabowo Subianto was said to be open to the idea of joining the ruling coalition but on the condition his Gerindra Party be given Cabinet posts that oversee food.and energy policies.
While the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) seems open to the possibility of granting some seats to its rival, the other parties in the ruling coalition rejected outright such an idea. Notably, on July 22, all the pro-Jokowi parties — with the exception of the PDI-P — met to discuss the situation. The subsequent fallout from this has seemingly not subsided as demonstrated by PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri’s snub toward her Nasdem counterpart Surya Paloh at the House swearing-in ceremony.
Second is Megawati’s own expectation that the PDI-P’s status as the party that won the most seats at the general election should be similarly reflected in the new Cabinet. Thus, while the PDI-P may allow the opposition Gerindra to join the coalition, it has also made clear it should not be at its own expense.
Recalling how she once rejected an offer by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to have eight seats in his Cabinet, Megawati has openly hinted that she expects no less. In other words, if eight cabinet seats were too little for the PDI-P when it was an opposition party back then, it would be even more unacceptable now that it is the largest ruling party.
