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Reshuffle Wednesday helps coalition close ranks ahead of 2024 polls
President Joko Widodo had reportedly struck a deal with the political bigwigs in his ruling coalition to only back presidential candidates from within their coterie, which could change the outlook of the 2024 election.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (fourth left) and other prominent ruling coalition members walk to the site of the inauguration of new Cabinet ministers on Wednesday. (Biro Pers dan Sekretariat Presiden/Laily Rachev)
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efore announcing his Cabinet shake-up on Wednesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo hosted a lunch at the Presidential Palace for all the political party leaders in his big-tent coalition.
His guest list included Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suharso Monoarfa and National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan.
They ended their lunch meeting by walking slowly, side by side toward the site of the inauguration ceremony for new Cabinet members – a show of unity and concord that the palace press bureau made sure to capitalize on.
Zulkifli, it was later revealed, had been made the latest member of the Cabinet, having been appointed trade minister. His party was one of the last of the ruling coalition to get a seat at Jokowi’s table after it joined the ranks last year.
But analysts say the meeting of the interparty elite was even more surprising than the results of the reshuffle itself. Rumors have been swirling that the political bigwigs arrived at a consensus during their luncheon on a common approach to the upcoming elections.
Two sources from within the ruling coalition said Jokowi and the party leaders had agreed to exclusively endorse candidates from within the group for the presidency. They would reject other candidates as well, the sources said.
“It was just a reiteration of an agreement made by the coalition parties 15 days ago,” one of the sources told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
