Politics

President elect Prabowo Subianto is reportedly starting to summon minister candidates to his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java today. This week is also the last chance to meet PDIP matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri before he will take oath on October 20, and the last week for outgoing president Jokowi to make some manoeuvres using his executive power.

It was initially thought an easy race for Ridwan Kamil, who got support from almost all political parties joining Prabowo-Gibran coalition (also known as KIM Plus), to become new governor of Jakarta. As we’re getting closer to the election day (November 27), however, it seems Pramono Anung, an underdog endorsed by PDIP and some small parties, gained more grounds.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with the outgoing President Jokowi at the latter’s private residence in Solo, Central Java, on Sunday (Oct. 13). Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi’s eldest son, accompanied Prabowo in the meeting. This is the second meeting between Prabowo and Jokowi in the past few days.

The tentative list of ministries under Prabowo administration, based on how the House of Representatives (DPR) divides sectoral supervisions to the working commissions, suggests no immediate spin-off at ministry of finance and that ministry of state-owned enterprises (MSOEs) will maintained as is.

Tubagus Ace Hasan Syadzily (Ace) is reportedly one of the minister candidates from Golkar, the largest party in Prabowo-Gibran’s coalition and the second largest party in the House of Representatives (DPR). Ace, who is one of the four new deputy chairmen of Golkar under Bahlil Lahadalia’s leadership, has been tipped as either the Minister of Religious Affairs or the Minister of Education.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is also the Chairman of Gerindra Party, has recently met Muhaimin Iskandar, the Chairman of PKB, during the PKB’s event held at the Jakarta Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel on Thursday (Oct. 10). The latest report said that PKB will get two portfolios in Prabowo-Gibran’s cabinet.

A tentative list of ministries under Prabowo administration has been circulated on Thursday (Oct 11) based on new structure of the House of Representatives (DPR). According to the list, there will be a total of 46 ministries, including five coordinating ministries. This is an expansion of 35% from the current administration of Jokowi.

There has been a rumor saying that the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (BGS) is among the candidates proposed by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to Prabowo Subianto for the next Minister of Finance. BGS, in his response when asked by the press on October 8, did not confirm or deny it, but admitted that he would comply with Prabowo’s decision should the President-elect appoint him to replace Sri Mulyani. So, let’s talk a bit about him.

Silmy Karim, director general of immigration at ministry of law and human rights, is reportedly one of candidates to become minister of health. Former CEO of the troubled state-owned steel manufacturing company Krakatoa Steel (KRAS) might follow the current minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin as health minister without medical education background. Who is Silmy?