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.