Boediono may replace Aburizal<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
Respected former finance minister Boediono is expected to be
\nincluded in the new Cabinet that will be announced soon,
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The rupiah and stocks strengthened on the news as financial
\nmarkets were hopeful Boediono, seen by some as the architect of
\nthe country's brief return to macroeconomic stability after the
\nlate 1990s financial crisis, could once again turn around an
\neconomy undermined by rising inflation, a weak currency and
\nnervous investors.<\/p>\n
Susilo said he spoke with Boediono, whose fiscal prudence was
\nwidely respected when he served as finance minister under
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, on Thursday at Halim Perdakusumah airport
\nin East Jakarta before flying to North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"I have discussed with Boediono the possibility of him joining
\nthe economic team. Frankly speaking, Pak Boediono told me he
\nwanted to relax, and wanted to help the nation anyway he could
\nwithout having to join the Cabinet. But I told him ... if the
\nstate needs you and the people want you, you must join the
\nadministration. It is a mandate,\" Susilo said in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Susilo said he would announce his new Cabinet in two or three
\ndays, but did not say what Boediono's position would be in the
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
Susilo offered Boediono a Cabinet position after winning the
\ncountry's first direct presidential election in 2004. However,
\nBoediono declined the offer, according to some because tycoon
\nAburizal Bakrie was also going to be part of the economic team.<\/p>\n
There was also some speculation Boediono was reluctant to join
\nthe Cabinet because he did not want to offend Megawati, who was
\ndefeated by Susilo in the election.<\/p>\n
But a source close to Susilo said on Friday Megawati recently
\nproposed Boediono's name to Susilo, who for the past several
\nweeks has been struggling over a Cabinet reshuffle amid reports
\nof strong pressure from political parties that support his
\ngovernment to offer positions to their candidates.<\/p>\n
Another source said Boediono, who is not tied to any political
\nparty, would be appointed coordinating minister for the economy
\nand chairman of the National Development Planning Agency
\n(Bappenas). Aburizal Bakrie, the current economics minister and a
\nsenior member of Golkar Party, would be moved to coordinating
\nminister for people's welfare, replacing Alwi Shihab, who would
\nbe ousted from the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
The same source said Sri Mulyani Indrawati, current Bappenas
\nchairwoman, would be appointed finance minister, replacing Yusuf
\nAnwar, Mari Pangestu would retain her post as trade minister and
\nbusinessman Rachmat Gobel would replace Andung Nitimihardja as
\nminister of industry.<\/p>\n
\"After evaluating the performance of my Cabinet... I concluded
\nthat the Cabinet, particularly the economic team, needs
\nrestructuring,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"We need to strengthen the Cabinet by adding strong ministers
\nwho can sustain macroeconomic policies and management<\/p>\n
\"We need a team that can move the real (economy) and
\ninvestment sector,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
Boediono declined to say whether he was prepared to join
\nSusilo's Cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"Later, when the time has arrived and everything is certain,
\nwe will meet in Lapangan Banteng,\" he was quoted as saying by
\nnews portal detik.com, referring to the area where the Office of
\nthe Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Ministry of
\nFinance are located.<\/p>\n
Comment -- Page 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boediono-may-replace-aburizal-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }