Jokowi's New Trial To Replace Edhy Prabowo, Observer: A Dilemma Between Choosing From Gerindra Or Other Parties

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo by: Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has not appointed a new Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to replace Edhy Prabowo. Currently, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is acting as Minister of KKP Ad Interim.

Jokowi has two choices, whether to re-elect Gerindra cadres or choose another party, either from other political parties or professionals.

According to a political observer from the Indonesia Political Opinion, Dedi Kurnia Syah thinks that this choice is actually Jokowi's dilemma in taking political steps.

"This will be a test for the President, whether he will be sovereign in determining his own ministers, or will he remain political by accommodating the interests of political parties," said Dedi to VOI, Saturday, November 28.

Dedi viewed that it would be better for Jokowi to choose a Minister of KKP from a professional circle. Dedi said, this might again stretch the post-2019 presidential election reconciliation between Jokowi and Prabowo.

However, if he re-chooses from the Gerindra cadre, there is an unfavorable view due to the corruption of Edhy who was a Gerindra cadre when he was Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

"Politically, the President should not reinstate Gerindra cadres in the KKP, this is to avoid potential abuse of power related to efforts to eradicate corruption in the KKP. The easiest choice is to recall Susi Pudjiastuti," explained Dedi.

According to Dedi, Jokowi will get positive sentiment if he hooks Susi Pudjiastuti back to become Minister of KKP. However, it cannot be denied that other political parties will intervene.

"This is where Jokowi's sovereignty is at stake," he said.

Previously, the chairman of the Gerindra Party, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, said that his party fully handed over to President Joko Widodo to replace Edhy Prabowo as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

However, until now, President Joko Widodo has not yet spoken out about changing the position of Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries since Edhy declared that he was resigning as a suspect at the KPK.

"We accept Pak Edhy Prabowo's resignation. As a minister, (the decision to replace Edhy, red) is the president's prerogative," said Dasco, Thursday, November 26.

Dasco admitted that the Gerindra Party did not want to interfere with Jokowi's decisions regarding the election in the Forward Indonesia Cabinet. Moreover, said Dasco, Jokowi had not yet conveyed whether the new KKP ministerial candidate was re-elected from the Gerindra Party or other parties.