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Prabowo’s cabinet of connections? Loyalty trumps qualifications for Indonesia’s new leader
- President-elect Prabowo Subianto looks to be doubling down on the patronage politics that have long plagued Indonesia
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As Prabowo Subianto prepares to take over Indonesia’s presidency in October, experts say efforts are already under way to ensure the incoming leader fills his cabinet with loyalists who could help him achieve some of his more ambitious campaign promises.
Incumbent Joko Widodo appointed two members of Prabowo’s inner circle as deputy ministers in his cabinet earlier this month, in a move experts described as “unusual” for an outgoing president.
At a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace on July 18, Widodo swore in Prabowo’s nephew, Thomas Djiwandono, as second deputy finance minister and named Sudaryono, a senior member of Prabowo’s Gerindra party, as deputy agriculture minister.
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Thomas – a close Prabowo adviser on fiscal issues and the Gerinda party’s treasurer – said his appointment indicated “continuity” between the outgoing and incoming government.
But analysts say the timing of the appointments speaks volumes about the relationship between Prabowo and Widodo, as well as the direction the president-elect might take in filling government positions.
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Prabowo’s landslide victory in February’s general election has largely been attributed to tacit support from Widodo, who is completing his constitutional two-term mandate. Prabowo’s running mate was Widodo’s eldest son, former mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
While Prabowo was initially expected to continue Widodo’s existing plans, including a US$32 billion project to build a new capital city called Nusantara, analysts say it has become increasingly unclear if he will follow through on those promises.
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