Joko Widodo, Indonesia's president, speaks during the Mandiri Investment Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb 1 2023. - Bloomberg
JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo dropped a hint on Tuesday (Jan 31) that a cabinet reshuffle could be announced on Feb 1 or on Thursday when asked when the fresh political move would be made.
Speaking during an anniversary event held by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), President Jokowi said he would likely announce it based on his calculation of the Javanese calendar.
"Just wait [for the announcement]. Wednesday is Pon and Thursday Wage," President Jokowi said, referring to the third and fourth day in the Javanese calendar.
The President has frequently opted to announce his cabinet shake-up on Wednesday Pon in the past, which in Javanese tradition is considered to be the best day of the week.
Jokowi, however, said his agenda for today was full and that it would not include an announcement for a cabinet reshuffle. "In the afternoon I'm flying to Bali. Yet, I am still in town in the morning and at noon," Jokowi said as quoted by Antara.
Jokowi is scheduled to speak at the Mandiri Investment Forum in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
Early in January, President Jokowi said he may reshuffle his cabinet in the next few days as some political sources bet on a last major realignment of his government to complete programmes ahead of elections due to be held in 2024. Speculation about a reshuffle has been growing since the NasDem Party, one of seven political parties in the ruling coalition, announced it would back former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, a politician seen as a potential rival to Jokowi's successor in the 2024 presidential election.
