Tjahjo died at the age of 64 on July 1, following weeks of intensive medical treatment for an infection that had spread to his lungs.

Since then, Home Minister Tito Karnavian held Tjahjo's position on an acting basis until mid-July. And later the ministerial post was occupied by the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, also on an acting basis.

Prior to his appointment as minister, Azwar served as the head of the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP) since Jan. 13.

Azwar has previously been considered as one of candidates to head the new capital Nusantara authority before Jokowi finally assigned the role to Bambang Susantono, a civil engineer-turned-economist specializing in transport and infrastructure.

In 2010, Azwar was elected as regent of Banyuwangi in East Java, with Yusuf Widyatmoko as his running mate. The pair was reelected with a landslide victory in 2015.

“We all know that Azwar Anas had a clear track record when he was in charge of the bureaucracy in Banyuwangi. I have seen a lot of innovations there in the field of public services," Jokowi told reporters after inaugurating Azwar at the State Palace on Wednesday. "That track record is what encourages us to choose Azwar Anas."

In 2018, the PDI-P named Azwar as Saifullah "Gus Ipul" Yusuf’s running mate in the East Java gubernatorial election. But Azwar dropped his bid after photographs allegedly showing him in a compromising position with an unidentified woman went viral on social media just days before he registered his candidacy with the election organizer.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said in late August of this year that chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had handed over several names to Jokowi during their closed-door meeting at the Presidential Palace but stopped short of revealing who the candidates were.

Rumors have been swirling that three candidates, including Azwar; North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey; and Semarang, Central Java, Mayor Hedrar Prihadi were proposed to the President.

“Productivity of civil servants is now important because many civil servants are retiring and thus, of course, in the future, there will need to be joint measures with other ministries, institutions and regional administrations because improvement in public [service] is the key,” Azwar told reporters after his inauguration.

Political-analyst Arya Fernandes of the Centre for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) said that Azwar would face a mountain of challenges because bureaucratic reform was one of Jokowi’s priority agendas in his final term.

“Bureaucratic reform is a long-overdue task. His leadership will be a defining factor when he takes over the post,” Arya said.

Siti Zuhro, a senior political analyst of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that Jokowi’s pick from the ruling party was a safe choice as appointing a more controversial or a less competent figure to such a strategic post would have raised eyebrows among the public.

“Azwar has made some breakthrough in bureaucratic reform in Banyuwangi and this must have been taken into consideration by Jokowi,” she said.

She however warned Azwar against any political intervention when assuming the ministerial post that is deemed strategic ahead of the 2024 general election.

“Azwar must be able to say no to any political intervention if he wants to carry out true bureaucratic reform,” Siti said.

Azwar’s inauguration occurred on the same day as Jokowi swore in new members of the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP), namely I Dewa Kade Wiarsa Raka Sandi, Ratna Dewi Pettalolo, Muhammad Tio Aliansyah, Heddy Lugito and J. Kristiadi.

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