Democrats, Golkar at odds over reshuffle<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Democrat Party and the Golkar Party, both main supporters of
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf
\nKalla, seem to be at loggerheads over a Cabinet reshuffle that
\nmany pundits have been demanding to improve what they say is the
\ngovernment's poor performance.<\/p>\n
The minority Democrat Party is calling on the President to
\nreplace all poorly performing ministers, and is seeking two more
\nministerial posts.<\/p>\n
Golkar, which finished first in the legislative election last
\nyear, has recommended some swapping of portfolios, but insists
\nthat a reshuffle should be the last resort.<\/p>\n
However, the Democrat Party's deputy leader Achmad Mubarok
\nsaid Susilo, who is the party's chief patron, needed to reshuffle
\nthe Cabinet to save his government.<\/p>\n
\"We are the main supporter of SBY and, therefore, we deserve
\ntwo more seats in the Cabinet,\" Mubarok said during a discussion
\nto evaluate Susilo's performance during his first year in office
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik and State Minister
\nof Administrative Reform Taufik Effendi are the only
\nrepresentatives of the party in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Mabarok recalled the chaos surrounding the selection of
\nministers last year, which he said had contributed to the
\ngovernment's perceived poor performance.<\/p>\n
Some survey institutes have suggested a Cabinet reshuffle,
\nespecially of economics ministers, saying that these ministers
\nhad failed to address the country's economic difficulties.<\/p>\n
Deputy Golkar chairman Burhanuddin Napitupulu insisted,
\nhowever, that a Cabinet reshuffle would not solve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"A Cabinet reshuffle must be carried out as the last resort. As
\nthe principal supporter of the government, Golkar deserves more
\nseats in the Cabinet if there is to be a reshuffle,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He defended the work of Susilo's economics team and the
\ngovernment's decision to raise fuel prices by an average of 126
\npercent on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
The President has said there will be no Cabinet reshuffle until he
\nfinishes reading the progress reports submitted by his aides. But
\na source within the presidential office said Susilo would drop
\nthree ministers, including Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar.<\/p>\n
Jusuf quickly denied the report.<\/p>\n
\"It's not true. I don't know where these rumors came from. I
\nam still performing my state duties and always do my best,\" Jusuf
\ntold reporters before leaving a breaking-of-the-fast gathering
\nhosted by Regional Representatives Council Speaker Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita, which Susilo also attended.<\/p>\n
\"It's up to the President. I've always to be prepared mentally
\nfor dismissal.\"<\/p>\n
Jusuf said he enjoyed the full support of all the officials in
\nhis ministry.<\/p>\n
\"But I don't think it's possible to clean all the dirty plates
\nin a year. It's impossible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB), Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh Rachman, criticized Golkar and the
\nDemocrat Party for showing that they would do anything to gain
\npower.<\/p>\n
\"The President should replace incompetent ministers with
\nprofessionals who are accepted by the public and the markets. The
\nparties supporting the government should be concerned with the
\npeople's suffering,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Political analyst J. Kristiadi from the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) said inadequate political support
\nfrom the House of Representatives had contributed to the
\ngovernment's problems.<\/p>\n
\"Susilo cannot effectively implement his policies because he
\nis supported by only 33 percent of House members, and this is an
\nunavoidable consequence of his nomination by a minority party,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi suggested that all sides, and the opposition bloc in
\nparticular, exercise patience and allow the government to work to
\nthe fullest during its remaining four years for the sake of the
\nnation.<\/p>",
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