JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has sworn in 34 members of his cabinet for the period of 2014-2019. The President named his cabinet as the Working Cabinet. The swearing in took place on Monday (Oct. 27) noon at the State Palace, Jakarta.
There are four Coordinating Ministers, including the newly post of Coordinating Minister for Maritime & Energy Affairs, in President Jokowi’s cabinet line-up. Other than that, the President also installed two Vice Ministers.
The cabinet members came from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, including those from minority ethnic and religious groups. About nine ministers came from outside of Java, while four ministers are non-Muslim.
The President has also accommodated demand for more females in the cabinet. He appointed eight female ministers, a substantial increase from previous regimes. He even appointed Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi that made her as the first ever female Minister of Foreign Affairs in the country’s history.
In a different place, the Spokesperson of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Johan Budi SP revealed to the press that KPK leaders have made sure that all members of the new cabinet are clean from possible implication in graft case.
As reported earlier, President Jokowi made a breakthrough by involving the KPK and the Anti-Money Laundering Agency (PPATK) to help him to cross check the track record and the wealth of each candidate of his cabinet members. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)