AHY Officially Inaugurated as Minister of ATR/BPN in History Today, February 21, 2024

President Jokowi's momentum to appoint AHY as Minister of ATR/BPN. (Setneg.go.id)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, two years ago, February 21, 2024, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially appointed Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) as Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN). The inauguration was considered a step for Democrats to join the government.

Previously, the Democratic Party often chose the position as the opposition. All kinds of government actions that harm the people are criticized. This condition makes the Democrats have loyal cadres and sympathizers.

The Gerindra and Democrat parties are known as the opposition in the Jokowi government. Both parties are active in launching criticism of the course of government. All kinds of policies that are not pro-people are criticized.

This condition makes the two parties have loyal supporters. The political map then changed when the 2019 presidential election was over. Prabowo Subianto and the Gerindra party chose to join the government. Gerindra Party also got two ministerial quotas.

This condition makes the Democratic Party alone as the opposition. The role of the opposition is not slack. The Democratic Party continues to carry out the function of controlling and balancing the government.

They criticized how Jokowi was too enthusiastic in carrying out development projects. However, there is little benefit. The government is considered by Democrats to only know how to build, but does not know how to maintain.

Instead of bringing progress, what exists is only waste, far from the principle of justice. Democrat's active criticism of the government then received sympathy from many parties.

Party members and sympathizers feel proud. However, everything changed when Jokowi and the General Chair of the Democratic Party, AHY, began to often show off their familiarity in early 2024. The two were caught having breakfast and cycling together in Yogyakarta.

"This morning I exercised by cycling with President Jokowi in Yogyakarta Special Region, while enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of Jogja. After passing through several streets around the square, we stopped by Gudeg Yu Djum Wijilan, for breakfast with a special menu."

"After cycling and having breakfast with Mr. Jokowi, we discussed many issues of nationality and of course related to the readiness of the election so that it runs safely, peacefully and democratically," said AHY as quoted by the detik.com page, January 28, 2024.

Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). (ANTARA)

The momentum made the public suspect that the Democrats would join the government. The suspicion of many people related to the government was finally able to invite the Democratic Party to join the government.

The narrative was strengthened by President Jokowi finally appointing AHY as Minister of ATR/BPN at the State Palace on February 21, 2024. The inauguration event surprised the public. The Democratic Party itself was surprised.

There are also Democratic cadres who did not expect that during this time as an opposition, they would eventually enter the government as well. However, the Democratic Party itself confirmed that AHY would work as best as possible.

"This is a responsibility that insyaallah I will carry out with all my strength even though we are also aware that this is a short period of time, about 8 months. But I always believe that in any time we can do the best for the community and the country," said AHY as quoted by the State Secretariat, February 21, 2024.