Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Bahlil Lahadalia, Chairman of Indonesia’s Golkar Party, recently revealed behind-the-scenes details about his party’s allocation of cabinet positions in President Prabowo Subianto’s new administration, known as the “Kabinet Merah Putih” (Red and White Cabinet). Minister Bahlil said Initially, Golkar was granted five ministerial posts.
Minister Bahlil shared this information during a celebration of Golkar’s 60th anniversary at the party’s headquarters in Jakarta on October 21, 2024. “Now that it’s done, I can share this. We were initially given five ministerial seats,” Bahlil said.
However, Golkar struck a political agreement with the ruling Gerindra Party, led by President Prabowo, to support Gerindra’s candidate for Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Indonesia’s top legislative body. This decision was made to avoid friction with the president’s party. “We allowed them to take the MPR seat, but in return, we asked for other positions,” Bahlil explained.
Interestingly, Bahlil declined to include himself in the five cabinet seats reserved for Golkar, stating that his role as the head of Prabowo-Gibran’s victory synchronization team (TKS) was different. “I said I don’t want to be counted among those five because I have my own responsibilities,” he remarked.
Through further negotiations, Golkar was able to secure two additional ministerial seats, bringing the party’s total to seven.
Bahlil also commented on the appointment of Airlangga Hartarto, Golkar’s former chairman, expressing confidence in President Prabowo’s decision to include him in the cabinet. Bahlil cited Airlangga’s qualifications, stating that he didn’t need to worry about whether the former minister would be selected. “Airlangga’s credentials speak for themselves. I trust he will be chosen because of his strong track record,” he said.
In the final cabinet lineup, Golkar received a total of eight ministerial posts, along with three deputy minister positions. Key Golkar figures appointed include Bahlil Lahadalia himself, Wihaji, Nusron Wahid, Maman Abdurrahman, and Meutya Hafid.
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Several Golkar members who served under former President Joko Widodo, such as Dito Ariotedjo, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and Airlangga Hartarto, also made it into the new cabinet.
Additionally, Golkar politicians Christina Aryani, Dyah Roro Esti, and former Secretary General Lodewijk F. Paulus were appointed as deputy ministers. Senior Golkar politician Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was named Chairman of the National Economic Council by President Prabowo.
(Becky)
