Lahadalia, who was met by reporters in the area of the State Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday, said he was unaware of President Jokowi's evaluation of his ministers amid rumors that there is a plan for a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday (Feb 2).
"I do not know. I happened to be taking care of the investments. I am not a minister, who oversees the performance," Lahadalia stated.
According to the minister, President Jokowi has an assessment for every minister, though only the head of state knows about this.
"The president is the commander. We, the ministers, are his subordinates. There must be an assessment from the boss, and who is being evaluated, what is the scores, only the president knows," he remarked.
Lahadalia said that if the president was irate with the ministers, then it would be hard to predict. This is in accordance with Jokowi's character so far.
"As for Javanese, from Solo, angry or not angry, they look the same, so I find it hard to guess," Lahadalia remarked.
Several ministers summoned to the Palace on Tuesday also admitted that they did not know about a cabinet reshuffle that will allegedly be announced on Wednesday (Feb 1).
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Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said that he came to the palace to discuss the price of rice, chili, egg, and meat.
"Reshuffle is the president's right," Hasan stated.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto urged journalists to wait for news on politics on Wednesday (Feb 1).
"About politics, wait for Wednesday," he said.
According to the Javanese calendar Wednesday, February 1, 2023, is Pon Wednesday, and President Jokowi conventionally announces important decisions on Pon Wednesdays.
President Jokowi, on several occasions, has also indicated that there will be a cabinet reshuffle.
The news of a cabinet reshuffle first blew up at the end of 2022 due to pressure from PDI-Perjuangan politicians. The reshuffling, especially of ministers from the NasDem Party, was after the party supporting the government declared Anies Baswedan as presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
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Translator: Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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