The NasDem Minister's Reshuffle Is Good For Democracy, Observer: The Problem Is, Does Jokowi Have A Nyali In His Mind?

President Jokowi (Between)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave a signal that he would reshuffle the cabinet after the NasDem Party declared Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate (Capres) in 2024.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, said the reshuffle was the president's prerogative. Of course, he said, if a re-shaking of the cabinet occurs, the reaction has been anticipated.

"Like whether a minister stays in his cabinet, of course there will still be Jokowi's subjectivity," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Friday, October 14.

Jamiluddin admitted that every time Jokowi reshuffled the cabinet, a debate arose in the community. Moreover, the discourse of reshuffle was aimed at three ministers from the party who carried and supported Jokowi for two terms.

"If Jokowi reshuffles ministers from the NasDem Party, it will certainly lead to a commotion of opinions in the public sphere. Jokowi certainly understands that. Moreover, seeing the role of the NasDem Party in the seat of Jokowi as a president who is not small, it will certainly increase the amount of opinion in the public sphere," he said.

However, he said, from that debate Jokowi still got a plus in addition to minuses from the public. So according to Jamiluddin, Jokowi has the right to reshuffle three ministers from the NasDem Party.

He added that removing the minister from the NasDem Party was also for the sake of democracy in order to increase the strength of the opposition as a supervisor of the wheels of government.

Because according to him, the function of political parties is not as a sign of government policy. At least, he continued, if NasDem becomes an opposition, it can be together with Democrats and PKS puts a brake on the government when making mistakes or arbitrariness.

"The three parties can control the running of the Jokowi government," he said.

"Therefore, the sooner the reshuffle of ministers from the NasDem Party, the better. The problem is, does Jokowi have the guts for that?" Jamiluddin added.

Previously, President Jokowi said the cabinet reshuffle plan was always there. In time, he said, a decision would be made. "The plan is always there. The implementation will be decided later," said Jokowi when he visited China's Indonesia Fast Train Station at the Tegalluar High Speed Train Station, Cileunyi, Bandung Regency, Thursday, October 13. The NasDem Party also respects President Jokowi's attitude if it is true that he plans to reshuffle the cabinet. According to NasDem Deputy Chairman Ahmad Ali, the cabinet reshuffle is fully the prerogative of the head of state.

"Yes (respect). Do we want to be angry? It's not our thing. Reshuffle is the president's prerogative," said Ali.