BackJoko Widodo delays Indonesia cabinet as graft body rejects candidates
Widodo, who was inaugurated on 20 October, has two weeks to announce his ministers
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Jakarta: Indonesia’s new President Joko Widodo has dropped eight candidates for his cabinet that failed a screening by the country’s anti-graft agency, delaying the formation of his government as he seeks replacements.
The cabinet will be announced soon, Widodo, known as Jokowi, told reporters at the state palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, adding he could not give a timeframe. A series of victories for the opposition in parliament and jostling by parties in his coalition over nominees had delayed the selection that was due in September. Jokowi, who was inaugurated on 20 October, has two weeks to announce his ministers.
The formation of the cabinet is the first test for Jokowi, showing how resilient he is to political demands as he seeks to fulfil promises to curb corruption, cut fuel subsidies, reduce bureaucracy and build infrastructure in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Jokowi replaced Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose Democrat party and administration were beset by graft scandals that eroded his support among voters.
“People in the cabinet must have integrity in line with what Jokowi has called for," said Yunarto Wijaya, executive director of consultancy company Charta Politika Indonesia in Jakarta. “This is a breakthrough, to dare to involve a third party that can be an objective appraiser affecting decisions on the cabinet."
Jokowi declined to give the names of those rejected by the Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK. The KPK, which assessed people on their declaration of wealth and whether they were involved in any corruption cases or investigations, warned against 10 out of 43 names submitted to the body, said spokesman Johan Budi on Wednesday. This was the first time a president asked the agency to screen candidates, he said.
Jokowi said he is meeting potential cabinet members on Wednesday. He met Bambang Brodjonegoro, the vice-finance minister under Yudhoyono, and they discussed the budget, Brodjonegoro told reporters on Wednesday. Brodjonegoro was a candidate for the cabinet, people familiar with the process said before the KPK’s findings were announced, asking not to be identified because the talks are private. Jokowi plans to appoint 18 professionals and 15 politicians to lead 33 ministries. Bloomberg
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