Do Wahid's wiles serve Indonesia?

Do Wahid's wiles serve Indonesia?

The Indonesian president has a reputation for being an astute political strategist.

But after last week's cabinet reshuffle in which he cut the number of ministers from 35 to 26 and installed mainly only those who are loyal to him, critics within Indonesia and abroad are wondering if this time he might finally have gone too far.

Amid howls from parliamentarians for him to either step down or hand over the reins to (Vice President). Megawati, Mr. Wahid finally last week ceded to his deputy the day-to-day management of the nation's affairs.

And then, in what many decried as a desperate attempt to restore faith in his leadership, he reshuffled the cabinet, ostensibly to make it leaner and more efficient.

The media outrage at what they called the new "crony cabinet" was vociferous, and the stock market plunged to a two-month low on rumors that Mrs. Megawati would resign in protest at Mr. Wahid's latest attempt at propping up his sagging popularity.

But a sense of relief swept through the country on Saturday when Mrs. Megawati swore in Mr. Wahid's new cabinet, leading many to observe that the friction between the president and his deputy had finally been resolved.

Given Mr. Wahid's record of mocking and sidelining his retiring but influential deputy, there is intense interest throughout Indonesia and elsewhere in whether Mrs. Megawati will be content with the "tasks, not powers" given to her so reluctantly by her superior.

In the short term at least, it appears the wily Wahid has kept his hold on the leadership of one of the world's most populous and turbulent countries.

But the cost to Indonesia as a nation for humoring Mr. Wahid's survival-at-all-costs leadership may not be worth bearing for too much longer.

-- The Bangkok Post