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Indef economist: Jokowi should ban ministers from holding party positions

22 October 2019 16:10

JAKARTA - Institute for the Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) senior economist Enny Sri Hartarti says President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo should be firm in banning cabinet ministers from serving as political party leaders.

This was conveyed by Ms Hartarti after reports surfaced that Airlangga Hartarto would be appointed as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in the Second Working Cabinet. Mr Hartarto, who served as Industry Minister in Mr Widodo’s first term, is the current Chairman of the Functional Groups (Golkar) Party.

“In terms of competency, we have no doubt regarding Mr Airlangga’s leadership as he proved during his time in the First Working Cabinet. However, Mr Jokowi must be committed to banning cabinet ministers from holding party positions to avoid any conflict of interest and omit sectoral ego,” said Ms Hartarti in a discussion titled “Observing Jokowi’s Second Cabinet” in Cikini, Central Jakarta as quoted by Bisnis.com, Tuesday (22/10).

According to Ms Hartarti, Mr Jokowi should appoint professionals to economic ministries to facilitate programme synergy in the next five years. During his first administration, said Ms Hartarti, coordination between ministries still left a lot to be desired.

“We have no objection to Mr Airlangga being appointed as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, but he should not serve as his party’s chairman at the same time,” Ms Hartarti concluded. (MS)

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