JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The meeting between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan at the State Palace on Tuesday (Nov. 3) has triggered more speculation about another round of cabinet reshuffle in the near future.
Zulkifli, who is also Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), however, denied the speculation. He denied the meeting was discussed about cabinet reshuffle.
According to Zulkifli, he was just invited to attend the dinner between President Jokowi and the President of Findland Sauli Niinisto.
Similar denial also expressed by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
PAN is a new member of the ruling coalition previously comprising of PDI-P, PKB, Nasdem, Romahurmuziy’s PPP, and Hanura. The rumor widely circulated in the media is that PAN will get two portfolios in the cabinet plus the head of the National Economy & Industry Committee (KEIN). (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)