Golkar set to decide stance on Cabinet

Golkar set to decide stance on Cabinet

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Golkar, the country's largest political party, will begin a
national leadership meeting here on Wednesday to assess its
current position in the government, including its seats in the
Cabinet.

The two-day meeting, to be officially opened by Golkar leader
and Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday evening, comes ahead
of an expected Cabinet reshuffle by President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono.

"The meeting will conclude with a political statement on the
party's position in the government," Golkar deputy leader
Burhanuddin Napitupulu said on Tuesday.

Muladi, who chairs Golkar's law, human rights and regional
autonomy department and is also the governor of the National
Resilience Institute, hinted that the party wanted more seats in
the Cabinet.

"We have discussed the problems with the Cabinet with the
President. We are not pushing for anything, but political
appreciation (for Golkar) is essential. It has to be
proportional, while still adhering to the principle of
professionalism," he said.

Golkar currently has two members in the Cabinet -- chief
economics minister Aburizal Bakrie and manpower minister Fahmi
Idris.

Burhanuddin said it was not too much to expect Golkar to
receive more seats in the Cabinet given its support for Susilo's
administration.

Susilo's Democratic Party, which currently has two seats in
the 35-member Cabinet, is seeking two more seats. The Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS) has three seats in the current Cabinet and
wants at least one more.

Burhanuddin denied the leadership meeting was being held to
prepare Golkar figures to assume seats in the Cabinet.

"We just happen to be holding this meeting at the same time
the President is evaluating his ministers and planning a Cabinet
reshuffle."

In addition to discussing internal party matters and Golkar's
performance in local elections, he said, the meeting, which will
be attended by 1,000 party members from more than 600 regional
branches, would evaluate the party's political support for the
current administration.

Golkar is considering forming a permanent political coalition
to support the government, Burhanuddin said.

Another Golkar senior executive, Yasril Ananta Baharuddin,
said the party had never formally discussed demanding more seats
in the Cabinet, out of respect for the President and his right to
name his own ministers. "Anyone making political statements about
the Cabinet reshuffle is speaking as an individual, not for the
party."

Susilo, seen by some critics as an indecisive leader, has
delayed announcing a new Cabinet lineup despite promising to do
so soon.

Some analysts have said Kalla is to blame for the delay. They
believe the Vice President is pressing the President to maintain
his close ally Aburizal as the coordinating minister for the
economy.

Critics have called for Aburizal's replacement, blaming him
for the country's economic problems and double-digit inflation.

Muladi has advised Kalla not to become involved in the Cabinet
reshuffle. "It is better for him (Kalla) not to meddle too much,
unless President Susilo asks for advice. Besides, the President
himself seems to have recognized the shortcomings (of the
Cabinet)."

Muladi wants to avoid the impression that Kalla is interfering
in the President's selection of his ministers.

He referred to Oct. 20, 2004, when Susilo assumed the
presidency but did not announce his Cabinet lineup until after
midnight. Several reports said Kalla held up the process by
demanding several of his own choices be given portfolios.

A Kalla rival in Golkar, Akbar Tandjung, a former speaker of
the House of Representatives, said that while the Vice President
benefited from his association with the Susilo administration,
the party gained nothing.

"Akbar's criticism is constructive, but not fully correct.
Kalla has promoted consolidation, democracy and transparency
within the party. There are no longer any internal cliques,"
Muladi said.