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Jokowi’s government coalition remains solid after PPP leadership crisis
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The head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa briefs reporters following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (Mou) between PT Indonesia Mecca Tower and Bayarind Artha Nusa Internusa in Jakarta on Feb. 10, 2020. (JP/ydp)
E
xperts said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s big-tent government coalition remained untroubled despite the recent internal rift within the United Development Party (PPP) that saw chairman Suharso Monoarfa ousted from office last week, as the government had moved swiftly to recognize the party’s new acting leader.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly issued a decree that confirms Muhammad Mardiono as the party's acting chairman until Suharso’s term expires in 2025.
A party meeting last week removed Suharso from his post over his “slip of the tongue” that angered Muslim clerics in the face of the PPP’s declining popularity, and replaced him temporarily with Mardiono, who at the time was the party’s advisory council chairman.
Suharso, who is also National Development Planning Minister in the Cabinet, has in recent months been engulfed in scandals, including allegations of receiving gratuities linked to the use of private jets in 2020 and repeated demonstrations at the party’s Jakarta headquarters calling for his removal. The straw that broke the camel’s back was his remarks on Aug. 15 that suggested he had to leave “envelopes” of money whenever he wanted to meet with Muslim clerics, which angered many.
Political analyst Firman Noor of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said on Sunday that the infighting within the PPP would not likely dent the unity of Jokowi’s government coalition, which covers seven political parties, including the PPP.
“All the issues are internal, and the change is only at the top [in the leadership of the party], while everything else remains the same. In addition, the reasons cited [for Suharso’s removal] had nothing to do with the PPP being disappointed with Jokowi’s administration,” Firman said.
Other parties within Jokowi’s coalition would also likely refrain from intervening, Firman added, saying that Jokowi would likely not take any issue with Mardiono becoming the new PPP chairman, particularly since they both shared a good rapport.
