Be Patient! …..Soon

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (center) and his running mate, Ma’aruf Amin (fifth right), pose with leaders of the nine political parties backing Jokowi’s reelection bid on 10 Aug. 2018, after the pair registered for the 2019 presidential election at the General Elections Commission in Central Jakarta.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo "laughed" in response to different versions of the 2019-2024 Cabinet composition circulating. After reading them, President Jokowi said: be patient!

Through his Instagram account @jokowi, the President acknowledged that he has received different versions of the Cabinet composition for the 2019-2024 period. "I read them myself enthusiastically," he said followed by laughing emoticons in uploads on Thursday (17/10/2019).

President Jokowi indeed often uploads photos and videos of government and family activities, as well as his views or feelings about an issue on social media. However, this time he put laughing emoticons in his upload.

On his Instagram account, Jokowi also uploaded a photo of a telephone receiver hanging with the words, "Patience! Soon…". The inauguration of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma\'ruf Amin as President and Vice President 2019-2024 is just a matter of days. Both will be installed on 20 Oct. 2019.

However, for some people, there are other things they are more excited about.

Maybe, at this time only Jokowi can answer it correctly.

The public is also curious about who will be picked by the President as ministers in his second term. Various names have circulated in recent weeks. On social media or short message services, different lists of members of the Jokowi-Amin Cabinet are circulating. The truth? Maybe, at this time only Jokowi can answer it correctly.

Political lobbying

During the last two weeks, political lobbying has become part of Jokowi’s work agenda. Almost every day, the agenda delivered to the Presidential Palace journalists has been internal, which means there are no open activities, which can be covered in the Presidential Palace complex.

However, in reality, Jokowi\'s agenda remains tight. Like on Thursday morning (10/10), the President received leaders of the Indonesian Veterans Legion and representatives of the social forestry community. In the afternoon, journalists were suddenly asked to cover Jokowi\'s meeting with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The following day, Jokowi also met with Gerindra Party’s chairman, Prabowo Subianto. The meeting was not included in the President’s agenda and was only known when Prabowo arrived at Merdeka Palace at 3 p.m.

Likewise, on Monday (14/10), in the agenda received by journalists, the president would only inaugurate the operation of the Palapa Ring broadband during the day. However, on that day, President Jokowi received the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan and the chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Said Aqil Siroj in separate meetings.

During the last three days, President Jokowi\'s agenda was also only internal. However, on Thursday afternoon, a convoy of cars was seen entering the Presidential Palace complex from the Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara gate, which is generally used for President Jokowi, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, as well as former presidents and former vice presidents.

That afternoon, Jokowi also met with Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

President Joko Widodo (at podium) opens a plenary Cabinet meeting on 3 Oct. 2019 at the State Palace, Jakarta. The meeting evaluated the 2014-2019 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and prepared for implementing the 2020 State Budget.

Agreement not yet realized

The issue of coalitions and Cabinet formation was discussed at a meeting between Jokowi and Prabowo, Yudhoyono and Zulkifli, indicating there is an effort to intensify communication to include political parties outside the coalition in the new Cabinet.

However, to date, there are no agreements yet among political parties currently supporting Jokowi regarding the addition of the coalition members.

A number of political parties supporting Jokowi-Amin are still seen half-heartedly accepting new members in the coalition government. The National Awakening Party (PKB), for example, still doubts Gerindra\'s commitment to supporting the government. PKB’s vice chairman Jazilul Fawaid, said, if it wants to enter the coalition, Gerindra must first show its commitment.

On various occasions, he said, Gerindra has not openly stated its commitment. Gerindra itself is still waiting, whether to join the coalition supporting the government or not.

According to Gerindra’s spokesperson Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, until now, the party has not received any offers for ministerial seats. However, the party has prepared several candidates.

While political parties are still anxiously hoping, Jokowi has indicated through social media that the composition of ministers in the new Cabinet has been decided. The names of ministers will be announced after the inauguration on Sunday or Monday, he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo (right) speaks with State Secretary Pratikno while waiting for leaders of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to arrive for a meeting on the presidential inauguration on Wednesday (16/10/2019) at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

"Who will help me in the next government? Be patient. Indonesia has no shortage of smart people who are able to lead ministries and institutions, and are willing to serve this nation," Jokowi wrote.

Finally, anyone, such as supporting political parties or non-government political parties as well as volunteers, can all lobby and propose a ministerial candidate to Jokowi.

However, the people who will eventually be named as members of the Cabinet, will only be known when Jokowi announces his Cabinet. So, be patient ... (NTA/INA/AGE)