A Number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers Are Replaced

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with a number of ministers, deputy ministers, figures and leaders of political parties on Tuesday. The meeting was believed to be related to a Cabinet reshuffle.

KOMPAS/CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

l Deputy Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Deputy Head of the National Land Agency Surya Tjandra (black shirt) enters the Presidential Palace complex through the side gate of Jalan Veteran, Jakarta, Tuesday (14/6/2022) at around 17.50 WIB.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A number of ministers and deputy ministers in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet is reportedly being replaced by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Several sources who spoke to the President said he wanted to strengthen and consolidate the Cabinet so that the government could run effectively ahead of the 2024 general election.

Based on Kompas research as of Tuesday (14/6/2022) at 11 p.m., the presidential decree on the replacement, exchange of positions and the addition of ministers has not been signed by President Jokowi. Reportedly, more than two ministers and two deputy ministers will be replaced or swap positions. However, the situation is still dynamic, so changes can occur until the very last moment.

"According to the plan, it will be on Wednesday," said an official at the State Palace regarding the inauguration of ministers and vice ministers.

The inauguration will reportedly be carried out by President Jokowi at the State Palace. The series of inaugurations will begin with the arrival of political party leaders to meet with the President. After that, the President will introduce the new ministers and ministers who are changing positions, as well as the new deputy ministers.

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Kompas contacted the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister/Deputy Head of the National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, former TNI (Indonesian Military) Commander Chief Marshal (Ret.) Hadi Tjahjanto, and Deputy Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Surya Tjandra. They were part of a number of figures summoned by the President on Tuesday afternoon.

Sofyan Djalil said he had worked with President Jokowi for eight years and would become a lecturer. Hadi Tjahjanto emphasized that he was ready to fulfill his territorial duties. Meanwhile, Surya Tjandra asked to wait for the announcement before commenting.

Summoned to the Palace

From Tuesday (14/6) afternoon until p.m., a number of ministers and figures took turns coming to the State Palace. Besides passing Jl. Veteran or the glass door or Pos 1 Istana behind the State Palace, Jakarta, they also entered from Wisma Negara or on the west side of the State Palace.

Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi was the first minister to come to the Palace at around 2 p.m. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono also came and was received by the President at 2:15 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto also arrived at the Palace.

Was just [summoned], that's why I'm hurrying.

After that, Surya Tjandra entered the Palace complex at around 5:50 p.m. When asked about the meeting’s agenda, Surya answered, "I don't know, I'll see you later, okay?"

A few minutes earlier, Sofyan Djalil had also rushed into the palace complex.

"I don't know, this time the agenda will possibly be the capital city, the PTSL [complete systematic land registration]. Just wait. Wait for pak President," he said.

Meanwhile, Hadi Tjahjanto, who entered the Palace in a hurry, also came after him.

"Was just [summoned], that's why I'm hurrying," said Hadi.

When asked further, Hadi said, "I don't know [the reason]."

KOMPAS/CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

Gate of the Presidential Palace complex around Jalan Veteran, Jakarta, Tuesday (14/6/2022) evening..

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Central Executive Board of Nasdem Party, Charles Meikyansyah, when contacted, confirmed the presence of the President.

Surya Paloh entered from the door of the Wisma Negara.

"About the [agenda], wait for the President. That is the President's business, that's later. Whether there will be [a reshuffle] or not, the President will explain that. Right now, there is no [explanation] yet," he said.

The chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Expert Council, Dradjad H Wibowo, said that there was speculation that big names would be dismissed from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. The dismissal was said to have the potential to trigger a domino effect in national politics. Moreover, rumors that PAN will get the mandate of one minister and one deputy minister in the Cabinet have also emerged.

"The name of the general chairperson of PAN, bang Zul [Zulkifli Hasan], was also often mentioned [in speculations about a Cabinet reshuffle]," said Dradjad.

The head of the Presidential Secretariat, Heru Budi Hartono, when confirmed, said the arrival of ministers, deputy ministers and party figures was at the invitation of the President and lasted from the afternoon and into the evening.

"Yes, it's true, they were called by the President, but I don't know [why]," he said.

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Separately, when asked about a potential cabinet reshuffle on the sidelines of his working visit in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said this was the President's authority.

"Just wait for the President. It's the President's business. [Whether there will be or not], the President will explain it later," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, who was asked by reporters about the reshuffle plan on Tuesday afternoon after accompanying President Jokowi at the Palace, only said, "The Cabinet is the full authority of the President."

Pramono emphasized that the President understood the needs of the Cabinet because he had ruled for eight years. What is certain is that the current government needs to accelerate the implementation of programs and policies because it only has two years left in its term.

If the President is really going to replace his ministers, Charta Politica Indonesia executive director Yunarto Wijaya hopes the change will be used as an opportunity to improve the quality of work of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. Moreover, the President has repeatedly disclosed the severity of the challenges ahead as a result of global uncertainty.

"Don't let the reshuffle, which has been the subject of gossip for the past year, even become an anti-climax because it is used to rearrange the coalition," he said.

(CAS/WKM/B OW/INA/APA /HAR)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.