Weeks before handing over power, Indonesian President Joko Widodo reshuffles cabinet, paving way for successor

On August 19, Indonesian President Joko Widodo reshuffled his cabinet just over a month before his term ends.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (right) talks with his successor Prabowo Subianto during a flag-raising ceremony to mark Indonesia's 79th Independence Day in the capital Nusantara on August 17. (Source: AFP)

According to the Jakarta Post, on the morning of August 19, at the Medeka State Palace in Jakarta, President Joko Widodo announced the official decision to appoint 7 positions in the cabinet.

Accordingly, former Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia will be the head of the Ministry of Energy, while former Indonesian Ambassador to the US Rosan Roeslani will lead the Ministry of Investment.

The new Minister of Law and Human Rights is Mr. Supratman Andi Atgas. Mr. Angga Raka Prabowo was appointed as Deputy Minister of Information and Communications.

In addition, President Joko Widodo also appointed Dadan Hindayana, an agriculture professor and member of Mr. Prabowo's campaign team, as head of the newly established National Nutrition Agency.

President-elect Prabowo's spokesman Hasan Nasbi has been chosen as head of the Indonesian President's Communications Agency.

The coordinator of Mr. Widodo's special staff said that the appointment of a new cabinet is necessary to prepare and support the smooth and effective transition process. Mr. Joko Widodo will hand over the leadership to President-elect Prabowo Subianto next October.

Earlier, in his final speech on the state of the country, President Joko Widodo highly appreciated the achievements of the government he led in the economy , development and infrastructure construction.

President Joko Widodo has served a maximum of two terms in power after defeating Mr. Prabowo twice in the 2014 and 2019 elections. He ended his term with high approval ratings thanks to delivering stable growth after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, President-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has joined forces with Joko Widodo's eldest son to run as Vice President.

With the backing of President Joko Widodo and his allies and a commitment to widely-accepted economic policies, Prabowo Subianto's poll numbers have soared.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/vai-tuan-truoc-khi-chuyen-giao-quyen-luc-tong-thong-indonesia-joko-widodo-cai-to-noi-cac-trai-duong-cho-nguoi-ke-nhiem-283162.html