The Party Begins to Roll Out the Names of Ministerial Candidates, There Are AHY to Yandri Susanto

Political parties are preparing cadres to fill the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet. PAN prepares Yandri, Democrats prepare AHY.

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO

The General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, who is also the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Forward Coalition, Prabowo Subianto, along with the general chairmen of his supporting parties, gathered at Kertanegara House in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Sunday evening (22/10/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A number of names have begun to be put forward by the political party supporting Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka to become ministers in the next cabinet. However, the selection of members is still left to Prabowo, the owner of the prerogative, after being appointed president in October. The struggle and service towards the victory of Prabowo-Gibran will certainly be taken into consideration in determining cabinet members.

Recently, leaflets containing a list of cabinet composition along with the names of ministers have been circulating widely on social media. Photos and names of a number of popular figures, from political parties or professionals, appeared on the leaflets which read the composition of the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet. Among them are Airlangga Hartarto, Agus Gumiwang, Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus, Meutya Hafid, and Nurul Arifin from the Golkar Party. There are also the names Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) and Hinca Pandjaitan from the Democrat Party, as well as Zulkifli Hasan and Eko Patrio from the National Mandate Party (PAN). Apart from that, there are the names Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Maruarar Sirait, Budiman Sudjatmiko, and Ferry Juliantono from the Gerindra Party.

Chairman of the PAN Central Leadership Council (DPP), Saleh Partaonan Daulay, when contacted from Jakarta, Thursday (9/5/2024), revealed that there were two names of PAN cadres who were considered capable of becoming ministers in the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet. They are Deputy General Chair of PAN Yandri Susanto and Chair of DPW PAN DKI Jakarta Eko Patrio.

Also read: Names of Ministers circulating are claimed to be hoaxes, official formation after Prabowo was inaugurated

According to Saleh, Yandri has the capacity and capability to become a minister. Not only that, Yandri's track record is also good. Yandri has served as Secretary of the PAN Faction in the DPR, Chairman of the DPR's Commission VIII, and currently Deputy Chairman of the MPR. In fact, Yandri has made a significant contribution to the victory of Prabowo-Gibran by serving as the Commander of Charlie (Mobilization) in the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN).

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The Chairman of the National Mandate Party, Zulkifli Hasan (center), accompanied by the Secretary General, Eddy Soeparno (right), and Vice Chairman, Yandri Susanto, after registering their prospective legislative candidates at the KPU office in Jakarta, Friday (11/5/2023).

"So, I think that Pak Yandri is mature enough and experienced in terms of experience. Pak Yandri also understands various issues and rumors. All of these, you know, become his assets," said Saleh.

The same goes for Eko Patrio. Saleh believed that Eko has proven himself to be a competent politician. Under Eko's leadership in the PAN DKI regional division, the vote count in Jakarta significantly increased. For the DPR, PAN now has three seats from the electoral district of DKI Jakarta. Moreover, PAN successfully filled one position in the DKI Province DPRD leadership.

"This shows that PAN does not lack the best cadre. So, Mr. Prabowo can propose any ministerial position, and we will provide our cadres," said Saleh.

Listen to aspirations

The Head of the Strategic Communication Agency of the Democratic Party's Central Executive Board, Herzaky Mahendra Putra, stated that the party will definitely propose their best cadres to become ministers in the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet. The best cadres are those who have high loyalty, perform well, and are competent.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, blew out the candles on his birthday cake after giving a press statement at the Democratic Party's headquarters in Jakarta on Friday (11/8/2023).

Referring to that criterion, the foremost cadre to be proposed is the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono alias AHY. When asked whether the Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Teuku Riefky Harsya, is among the best cadres who could be selected as a minister, according to Herzaky, it is possible.

"Because he (Teuku Riefky) is our chairman's trusted person. He has been helping Mas AHY in organizing and has proven to be successful in the TKN during the presidential election. However, once again, it is Mas AHY's authority to propose (Democrat cadres) whoever he wants. And, of course, it is President-elect Prabowo's prerogative right to decide," said Herzaky.

Herzaky also does not want to speculate on which ministry post will be given to the Democratic Party. According to him, let that be a discussion between Prabowo and AHY. In principle, the Democratic Party is ready to be placed in any position. "What is certain is that we have many best cadres who have competence, loyalty, and contributions proven and tested in the TKN," he said firmly.

PAN does not lack the best cadres. So, Mr Prabowo, please submit any (minister), we will prepare (our cadres).

When asked whether AHY would become the Coordinator Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam), Herzaky said that the decision is entirely up to Prabowo. "Anyway, he (AHY) is the chairman. He will also listen to the aspirations of party members and the community to determine the best position. But, as we know, all of this is within the prerogative of Mr. Prabowo," he said.

Inter-leadership discussions

Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party, Firman Soebagyo, also admitted that Golkar has prepared a number of names to be proposed as ministers in Prabowo-Gibran's cabinet. However, he is reluctant to disclose these names.

He stressed that the certainty of the names that will become ministers in the future depends on the agreement between Golkar Chairman Airlangga Hartarto and Prabowo. Airlangga is currently in Germany to perform his duties as the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. After returning to Indonesia, the possibility of discussions with Prabowo regarding filling ministerial seats in the upcoming cabinet will be intensified.

"So, there are (a number of cadres who are being prepared to become ministers), but we don't know yet. "That's just a discussion between leaders," said Firman.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

The Secretary-General of the Gerindra Party's Central Executive Board, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, gave a press statement before entering the National Leadership Meeting room of the Gerindra Party in Jakarta on Monday (23/10/2023).

Meanwhile, Gerindra Party Chief Executive Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that discussions on the names of those who would be in the cabinet had not yet been completed. Prabowo is still focused on designing a road map to fulfill the programs promised during the campaign. "Until now, there has been no internal discussion or formulation of a fix cabinet," he said.

Also read: Reorganizing State Ministries, Cabinet Proposed to Fill with 41 Ministers

Dasco was reluctant to reveal the names that the supporting parties had offered to Prabowo. However, he emphasized that anyone who has fought to win Prabowo in the 2024 presidential election will definitely be considered for inclusion in the next cabinet.