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Jokowi looks for 'soft landing' as his presidency nears its end
Two years from the end of his second and last term in office, Jokowi has been increasing the size of his Cabinet by opening up more deputy ministerial posts, giving him more room to accommodate political allies and figures deemed valuable to the President.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (right) and his ministers convene in a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Aug 3, 2020.
(Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/via kompas.com)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appears to be looking for a soft landing as he approaches the end of his presidency.
Two years from the end of his second and last term in office, Jokowi has been increasing the size of his Cabinet by opening up more deputy ministerial posts, giving him more room to accommodate political allies and figures deemed valuable to the President.
Two weeks ago Jokowi signed a presidential decree stipulating that the home minister, in carrying out his tasks, "can be assisted by a deputy minister" appointed by the President.
The move adds to the now 10 vacant deputy ministerial seats, including those at the Manpower Ministry, Education and Culture Ministry, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and the Social Affairs Ministry.
State Secretary Pratikno has contended that the positions were prepared by the President to anticipate rapid changes and to respond to unexpected situations. However, he said that the seats did not always need to be filled.
"Perhaps there is a ministry that in a certain situation needs a deputy minister, then the position is there. But if it's not needed, it doesn't need to be filled," he said on Monday.
Pratikno claimed that there were no plans to fill the vacant deputy minister seats anytime soon.
