Golkar split over demand for more ministerial posts<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party reaffirmed on Wednesday its support for the
\ngovernment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which it said
\nwas unconditional despite internal pressure for more
\nrepresentation in Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono said the party did not
\nintend to ask for more ministerial posts in Susilo's Cabinet, but
\nsaid he did back a review of Cabinet members' performance to make
\nway for a possible reshuffle.<\/p>\n
\"It's not true that we have raised such a request (for more
\nministers), because reshuffling the Cabinet and appointing
\nministers are entirely the president's prerogative,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
Agung, who is also the House of Representatives Speaker, was
\ncommenting on earlier remarks made by some Golkar politicians who
\nsaid the party deserved more seats in Cabinet due to its support
\nfor the government.<\/p>\n
\"Such a request has never been discussed yet, informally or
\nformally, within the party,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
He said it would be necessary for the government to review the
\nperformance of the Cabinet within five months, or a year after it
\nassumed power, to see if public expectations had been met.<\/p>\n
\"If the review finds any (of the 33) minister disappointing,
\nit's up to the government to reshuffle them. Golkar has enough
\nqualified resources to fill the ministerial posts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agung earlier said on Friday it was more than logical for
\nGolkar, which won the most votes in last year's legislative
\nelections, to take more Cabinet posts, and that it would be
\ninappropriate if the government did not consider it, given the
\nsupport that Golkar had thrown behind it so far.<\/p>\n
Golkar is led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who contested the
\npresidential election last year as the running mate for Susilo,
\nalthough the party officially supported the then incumbent
\npresident, Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
There are only two Golkar members in Susilo's multi-party
\nCabinet -- Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie
\nand Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris.<\/p>\n
Some Golkar politicians have said this was not enough and
\nnoted Aburizal and Fahmi's appointments were not originally
\nsupported by the bulk of Golkar members.<\/p>\n
A request by Golkar to secure at least seven Cabinet posts was
\nmade public by several party officials recently, who linked it to
\nfurther support of the government by the party's House members.<\/p>\n
A Cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place before October,
\nwhen Susilo appraises his ministers.<\/p>\n
Legislator Effendy Choirie from the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) said it was logical for Golkar to make such a request
\nbecause it could help to stabilize the administration.<\/p>\n
\"I'm of the opinion that a Cabinet reshuffle is urgent. The
\npresident should pick replacements from parties that won the most
\nvotes to help make the Cabinet more conducive and solid,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Effendy added that Kalla, after meeting with PKB's newly-
\nelected leader Muhaimin Iskandar, had promised to advise
\nCoordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Alwi Shihab and
\nState Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions
\nSaifullah Yusuf to \"back away\" from the PKB.<\/p>\n
The two formed a splinter group intent on challenging the
\noutcome of the PKB Congress in April. Their move was stymied when
\nthe congress elected Muhaimin as PKB's executive leader and
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid as the party's influential chief
\npatron.<\/p>",
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