The rumors of cabinet reshuffle have grown wild. Muhammad Rapsel Ali—the son-in-law of Vice President Ma’ruf Amin—and Muhaimin Iskandar—the chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB)—have been mentioned as potential minister candidates.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may soon announce a cabinet reshuffle. In the midst of the rumors, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir stated that he did not have any feeling of insecurity. Erick’s statement has triggered many speculations.

There are rumors that the Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Asman Abnur might return to the cabinet. Asman was the Minister of State Apparatus & Bureaucratic Reform in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s first term.

The representatives of seven professional organizations and engineers associations met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the State Palace Jakarta on Thursday (April 15). In the said meeting, they recommended the President against rushing toward the construction development of the new capital. The Government is targeting to kick off the groundbreaking of the development of the new capital in the neighboring regencies of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara (East Kalimantan) this year, once the House of Representatives (DPR) enacts the Omnibus Bill on the New Capital. 

Some speculate that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo might use the opportunity of the upcoming cabinet reshuffle to bring the National Mandate Party (PAN) back into the ruling coalition. Some also wonder whether the President will use the opportunity to make the Military Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who will be entering his mandatory retirement age this year, a minister. Commander Hadi becoming a minister would trigger a succession at the helm of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Some names have been mentioned as potential minister candidates following the rumors of cabinet reshuffle. One of them is Abdul Mu’ti, the secretary general of PP Muhammadiyah. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama a.k.a Ahok, who is known as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s political ally, has also been mentioned as a minister candidate.

Rumors of an upcoming cabinet shake-up concerns the National Research & Innovation Body (BRIN). But many wonder whether President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo would also take such an opportunity to completely overhaul his cabinet. Of the ministers whose appointment has been challenged, for one reason or another, are Nadiem Makarim and Bahlil Lahadalia. It so happens that their respective institution will undergo a change of nomenclature. Will they stay or will they go?

The Expert Staffer of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, who is also a Golkar Party politician, told Kompas that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will announce changes to the cabinet this week. If that’s true, it would be the second round of cabinet reshuffle in Jokowi’s second term. 

Polling agency KedaiKOPI released the result of its electability survey on Monday (April 12). It found the Chairman of Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto leading the poll among figures affiliated with political parties. KedaiKOPI also found former Military Commander General (retired) Gatot Nurmantyo with a significant level of electability.

The Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa stated that the groundbreaking of the development of the new capital of Indonesia in the neighboring regencies of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara (East Kalimantan) would begin after the House of Representatives (DPR) enacts the Omnibus Bill on the New Capital. The DPR will commence the deliberation of said bill next month, after its return from recess.