Do Wahid's wiles serve Indonesia?<\/p>\n
The Indonesian president has a reputation for being an astute
\npolitical strategist.<\/p>\n
But after last week's cabinet reshuffle in which he cut the
\nnumber of ministers from 35 to 26 and installed mainly only those
\nwho are loyal to him, critics within Indonesia and abroad are
\nwondering if this time he might finally have gone too far.<\/p>\n
Amid howls from parliamentarians for him to either step down
\nor hand over the reins to (Vice President). Megawati, Mr. Wahid
\nfinally last week ceded to his deputy the day-to-day management
\nof the nation's affairs.<\/p>\n
And then, in what many decried as a desperate attempt to
\nrestore faith in his leadership, he reshuffled the cabinet,
\nostensibly to make it leaner and more efficient.<\/p>\n
The media outrage at what they called the new "crony cabinet"
\nwas vociferous, and the stock market plunged to a two-month low
\non rumors that Mrs. Megawati would resign in protest at Mr.
\nWahid's latest attempt at propping up his sagging popularity.<\/p>\n
But a sense of relief swept through the country on Saturday
\nwhen Mrs. Megawati swore in Mr. Wahid's new cabinet, leading many
\nto observe that the friction between the president and his deputy
\nhad finally been resolved.<\/p>\n
Given Mr. Wahid's record of mocking and sidelining his
\nretiring but influential deputy, there is intense interest
\nthroughout Indonesia and elsewhere in whether Mrs. Megawati will
\nbe content with the "tasks, not powers" given to her so
\nreluctantly by her superior.<\/p>\n
In the short term at least, it appears the wily Wahid has kept
\nhis hold on the leadership of one of the world's most populous
\nand turbulent countries.<\/p>\n
But the cost to Indonesia as a nation for humoring Mr. Wahid's
\nsurvival-at-all-costs leadership may not be worth bearing for too
\nmuch longer.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/do-wahids-wiles-serve-indonesia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }