An effective government needs checks and balances. The checks and balances must existJakarta (ANTARA) - Jusuf Kalla affirmed that despite not being entitled to participate in the upcoming cabinet line-up finalization, he was keen that an effective opposition camp exercise checks and balances in the Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Ma'ruf Amin administration.
"An effective government needs checks and balances. The checks and balances must exist," Outgoing Vice President Kalla told journalists after observing the construction process of the International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) in Depok, Central Java, on Tuesday.
Kalla, to be officially replaced by Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin, a Muslim cleric, on October 20, 2019, remarked that he was not entitled to determine members of the new cabinet line-up since finalizing it was Jokowi's prerogative right.
He also admitted that owing to his absence in the political processes of this cabinet line-up issue, he had no knowledge of the structure of coalition parties.
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Kalla desisted from commenting on the coalition issue regarding the recent meetings of incumbent President Jokowi with the leaders of Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Prabowo Subianto and Democratic Party (Demokrat) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Apart from whether Gerindra and Nasdem would finally decide to stay within the Jokowi-Amin administration, Kalla opined that the existence of an opposition camp was deemed necessary to exercise a system of checks and balances to facilitate the effective running of the government.
The Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) remains consistent in staying outside the government, he noted.
On Oct 11, Subianto had held a meeting with President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace during which they shared a common perspective on Indonesia's dire need for security and political stability.
On Oct 13, Prabowo met with Surya Paloh, while on Oct 14, he had also held a meeting with the National Awakening Party (PKB) leader, Muhaimin Iskandar.
Both Nasdem and PKB are two members of the coalition parties of the Jokowi-Amin administration.
Along with parties, such as the Golkar Party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), and several other minor parties, Nasdem and PKB demonstrated their unwavering support for the Jokowi-Amin camp during the campaign period of and the aftermath of the recent presidential elections. Related news: Jokowi, SBY meet to discuss Indonesia's current political state
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fransiska N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
