Team Jokowi prepares to take the reins

The Indonesian president-elect and his running mate enter office October 20th.

By Alisha Nurhayati for Khabar Southeast Asia in Jakarta

September 06, 2014
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Indonesia's presidential transition is in full swing after last month's Constitutional Court certification of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo'sJuly 9th electoral victory .

  • A man with a rooster crouches by a poster in Jakarta depicting president-elect Joko

    A man with a rooster crouches by a poster in Jakarta depicting president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla on August 29th. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]

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With several weeks to go till the former Jakarta governor, 53, takes office as president, many questions about the composition of his cabinet and future ruling coalition remain unanswered.

For one, there's the question of whether two Islamic parties that sided with losing candidatePrabowo Subianto– the United Development Party (PPP) and National Mandate Party (PAN) – will quit the Red and White Coalition to join a new ruling bloc. Bringing PPP and PAN onto Jokowi's side would guarantee him a majority of seats in the House of Representatives ( DPR ).

"I can say there are equal numbers of those [party members] who want to stay with the Red and White Coalition and those who want to join Jokowi and Kalla," The Jakarta Post quoted PPP Secretary General M. Romahurmuziy saying Tuesday (September 2nd).

On Monday (September 1st), Jokowi met with Prabowo's running mate,Hatta Rajasa, a former economics minister who belongs to PAN, the Jakarta Globe reported.

"We are still committed to being part of the Red and While coalition", Hatta told Khabar Southeast Asia back on August 21st, when the Constitutional Court rejected Prabowo's motion to nullify the election results because of alleged voting irregularities.

For its part, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party indicated it would remain neutral, Antara News reported Tuesday.

"We are not part of the Jokowi-Kalla coalition. So we will continue to be independent," Syarief Hasan, party executive chairman, told Khabar. He added any party member wanting to join Jokowi's cabinet needs Yudhoyono's permission.

Cabinet goings-on

Jokowi's transition team, meanwhile, is tight-lipped about what's happening with prospective cabinet candidates. Late last month, Jokowi said such discussions would happen only after he took the presidential oath on October 20th.

Jokowi has a list of criteria such candidates must meet. These consist of: a record free of corruption or human rights abuses; integrity; loyalty; competence; managerial experience and the ability to be a team player.

Separately, on Thursday Kompas reported poll results fromJokowi's invitation to the public to nominate people for his cabinet are in, with as many as 162,788 people voting for 44 prospective appointments.

The top three vote getters were Anies Basweden for minister of education, Poltak Sitanggang for minister of energy and mineral resources, and Dahlan Iskan for minister of industry and trade.

Reader Comments
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    • rachmad
      October 16, 2014 @ 10:10:28PM
    • We will see whether or not what he promised during the campaign could be realized for the people.
    • fata yasin
      October 15, 2014 @ 09:10:30PM
    • The Red White Coalition is acting out and is arrogant, doing away with a presidential state system. Aren't the legislators afraid that the House of Representatives building would be besieged by the people and students?
    • Haryy Sudjikianto
      October 13, 2014 @ 03:10:46AM
    • Come on, Mr. Jokowi and JK, in the next 5 years, prove to the people, specifically the Red White Coalition which underestimates you both, that the two of you will truly be leaders of a great nation who care about their duty to alleviate people's suffering. Come, both of you sirs, prove that you are the people's chosen who work only for the people. From a financial perspective, both of you sirs are already very comfortable. If necessary, your salaries for the next 5 years can be donated to the people who are very poor so that the two of you sirs can be truly noble of heart. Do not become like past leaders who only think of themselves, their families and their cronies.
    • aryn
      November 11, 2014 @ 12:11:34PM
    • Why would anyone donate their salary?
    • jonson
      October 12, 2014 @ 04:10:08AM
    • I hope that Jokowi establishes one additional ministry, "the Ministry of Taxation" so that taxes that often disappear and are not well managed can be organized. Correct management of taxes will make Indonesia (the people) slightly more prosperous.
    • PAULINUS A.
      October 10, 2014 @ 12:10:42PM
    • Jokowi-JK are fit to lead Indonesia. They are down-to-earth, honest, they have authority and the discipline to uphold truth and to eliminate the corrupt without prejudice; moreover, the despotic and corrupt officials in office and former officials must be tried according to the regulations and laws of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
    • klunthung
      October 10, 2014 @ 10:10:58AM
    • The president is a reflection of his people.
    • agung pratama
      October 10, 2014 @ 09:10:34AM
    • Lucky Prabowo did not win in the presidential elections. If he had, we could have ended up being under his power, living with ineffectual democracy and regulations. Hopefully Jokowi will be able to steer the Indonesian nation away from this and fulfill the aspirations of the country of Indonesia.
    • GITA
      October 10, 2014 @ 08:10:50AM
    • Don't forget those campaign promises.
    • ijada wijaya
      October 10, 2014 @ 06:10:09AM
    • I'm curious as to why this is still going on. They have lost and yet they want to sabotage things. This is a thing of the past., friend, the people might get mad, you know!
    • naim
      October 10, 2014 @ 05:10:11AM
    • We must be optimistic in facing the political wave of the red and white.
    • anton
      October 9, 2014 @ 04:10:28AM
    • Pray for an Indonesia that is free from corruption, collusion and nepotism.
    • roy s herlambang
      October 9, 2014 @ 03:10:46AM
    • If Jokowi does not improve communications with the RWC, he will face trouble, but if Jokowi JK engages in pro-people activities, they will certainly be supported by the RWC and the people.
    • masduki
      October 8, 2014 @ 08:10:27PM
    • That is very true.
    • H.A.Malik Mahiya
      October 8, 2014 @ 09:10:41AM
    • I give my full support because that person is humble and calm, with great confidence. Hopefully they will succeed in bringing Indonesia to greatness. Amin.
    • reza
      October 8, 2014 @ 06:10:21AM
    • Prabowo reminds me of Soeharto regime. Your politics are rife with deception. The people are not stupid, man. You lost in the presidential elections and now you are messing around with the senate and assemblies. If you had dignity, you would recognize and support Jokowi-JK. Shame on your fundamental principles from the TNI. The Indonesian military is great of spirit but you have strayed far from the tenets of democracy. The people would speak out if you mess up this country. Remember, Mr. Prabowo, I would mobilize the people with full force. Let me die, as long as I live in democracy.
    • Najwa Qarina
      October 8, 2014 @ 04:10:57AM
    • Hopefully Jokowi's cabinet will be able to work together and be solid, have the courage to make decisions. Each one will have the responsibility to carry out their duties. I pray that hopefully Jokowi will succeed in leading Indonesia. Ignore the Red White Coalition, what matters is the Great Indonesia Coalition. Continue what you're doing and the people will give their support. Bravo Mr. Jokowi, the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
    • dedycool
      October 8, 2014 @ 03:10:43AM
    • We represent the small folk, "hopefully the people elected into Jokowi-JK government are truly people of faith, with honesty, good virtues and are willing to carry out their duties well for the country and the people of Indonesia", Amin ya robbal alamin.
    • ijada wijaya
      October 7, 2014 @ 03:10:17AM
    • The media publishes good and trustworthy news, don't tear it down, the readers might get angry.
    • muzani
      October 7, 2014 @ 12:10:51AM
    • It is certainly possible, as long as they stick to their original stance for the people's prosperity. We the people will continue to give support.
    • GASPAR HARUM
      October 6, 2014 @ 12:10:02PM
    • Mr. Jokowi and JK would certainly want the people of Indonesia to live in contentment and prosperity.
    • Abdul Mukemi
      October 6, 2014 @ 09:10:31AM
    • Hopefully Mr. Jokowi-JK will be able to realize their campaign promises, improving people's prosperity, especially for the poorer people.
    • wildan achmad
      October 8, 2014 @ 02:10:19AM
    • As citizens we should not just wait or rely on the government but we must also be creative and innovative, because there are numerous issues faced by the government.
    • desi
      October 5, 2014 @ 10:10:33AM
    • In one publication it is said that Mr. Jokowi will resolve the matter of the K2 honorarium teachers who have been teaching since 2004. So, what is the status of those of us who do not fall into category 2 when we have been teaching for nine or more years. The only difference is that we started in honorarium status in 2006.
    • cipto leksono
      October 5, 2014 @ 01:10:19AM
    • Very, very optimistic.
    • sarnuji
      October 4, 2014 @ 07:10:02PM
    • All that is being done, or rather, the tricks employed by the Red White Coalition are manifestations of disappointment, not efforts towards fixing the system. If this is the foundation, the useless coalition will fail. Mr, Jokowi-JK, the will of the people need not be concerned about the RWC's trickery.
    • aep
      October 7, 2014 @ 07:10:13PM
    • Let's not judge yet whether the poster of the comment is wrong or right.
    • FITRIA MAISIR
      October 3, 2014 @ 09:10:55AM
    • I very much hope to always get the latest news.
    • sunardi
      October 3, 2014 @ 07:10:02AM
    • Willing to sacrifice.
    • osyn
      October 2, 2014 @ 07:10:59PM
    • Find people whose souls are free of corruption.
    • tengkumustafa
      October 2, 2014 @ 05:10:24AM
    • In any case, we remain optimistic for the new government if Jokowi-JK truly fulfill their promise, Amen.
    • DJOKO SANTOSO
      October 5, 2014 @ 02:10:05AM
    • I believe that Jokowi-JK will carry out their promise and we the people will monitor their work should there be those who would hinder and sabotage because the likelihood for it happening is high in politics. "People Power" is our weapon for fighting against the RWC (Red White Cowards). Come, Indonesians, let us join ranks and unite for Indonesia the Great and be as one.
    • bahar
      October 5, 2014 @ 08:10:38PM
    • Considering the experience of both and the support of the people I am optimistic that they will succeed in leading and fixing this country.

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