Sugiono, dubbed Prabowo’s ideological son, was named the secretary general of Gerindra on Aug. 1, making him the second most powerful person in the ruling party. He replaced Ahmad Muzani, who held the post for eight years. Muzani, who is also the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), now holds advisory roles as secretary of the party’s board of trustees and chair of Gerindra's honorary council.

Based on common sense, it is very hard to imagine that Sugiono will be able to devote his time and energy for the two strategic posts simultaneously. Both jobs require his full attention, and he is not a superhuman. No matter how strongly he assures the public, skepticism persists his commitment to his political party will come at the cost of Indonesia’s efforts to advance national interests through diplomacy.

Traditionally, the foreign affairs portfolio used to go to a nonpartisan figure, partly due to the huge responsibilities borne by a foreign minister.

Despite denials from government officials, rumors are circulating that the President may have a plan to relocate Sugiono to another strategic Cabinet position, which will focus on domestic affairs. Unless the President has such a consideration in the near future, it is not an exaggeration to say that the dual role for the foreign minister is a blunder.

No doubt that Sugiono will be preoccupied with his new political role. He, for example, will manage the President’s relations with the seven ruling coalition members and regional leaders, such as governors, mayors and regents who hail from Gerindra.

When appointing Sugiono the foreign minister last October, the President also assigned three deputy foreign ministers, including two career diplomats, with a clear division of labor. Arrmanatha Nasir is primarily in charge of internal and multilateral affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno is responsible for bilateral cooperation and negotiations of international agreements and politician Anis Mata is assigned to cover diplomacy with Islamic nations.

With all due respect to the deputies, only Sugiono has the prerogative to make strategic decisions and sign important and official documents. His foreign counterparts will also much prefer to see him over his deputy ministers.

As the country’s chief diplomat, Sugiono should represent Indonesia in international forums, including multilateral meetings and negotiations at ASEAN, Group of 20, BRICS and the United Nations General Assembly.

Currently, the ministry has six directorate generals. They are the offices for Asia-Pacific and Africa, America, Europe, ASEAN cooperation, multilateralism, law and international agreements, as well as information and public diplomacy.

Sugiono has just lost three of his director generals. President Prabowo swore in Umar Hadi, the director general for America and Europe, as the permanent representative to the UN in New York, and Abdul Kadir Jaelani, who is in charge of Asia-Pacific and Africa, as ambassador to Germany earlier this month. The ministry’s Director General for Law and International Agreement Laurentius Amrih Jinangkung is still awaiting confirmation from his host, the Netherlands.

Sugiono will have to find their replacements immediately, at a time when he is weighing a possibility to reinstate the Directorate General of Foreign Economic Relations, which was abolished more than two decades ago. However, there has been no progress on the plan, at least now.

Amid such a heavy workload as foreign minister, the new responsibility as Gerindra secretary general will obviously stretch Sugiono to the limit. It is crucial, however, that Indonesia’s foreign policy and political stability at home remain uncompromised.

A clear explanation from the President will help restore public confidence and ensure that these overlapping roles serve Indonesia’s best interests.