Indonesia President apologizes to parties excluded from cabinet lineup

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the new deputy ministers in the Indonesia Onward Cabinet after the announcement (The Jakarta Post)

Jakarta: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has apologized to several parties, whose aspirations were not accommodated during the selection for the Indonesia Onward Cabinet lineup.

“Those disappointed reach more than 266 million. This means their number is higher than those, who are pleased. Perhaps, some of those present are also disappointed. Hence, I do apologize for being unable to accommodate all of them because, once again, only 34 posts are available,” he said, quoted by Indonesia’s news agency ANTARA.

Jokowi said he had received around 300 ministerial candidates before he announced the cabinet lineup on Wednesday.

Forming the cabinet was a challenge since he had to adjust to various backgrounds, he added.

“We must look at issues concerning regions, ethnic groups, and religions. The proportion must be truly accurate when it comes to political parties and professionals. It is not easy to form a cabinet lineup that must be diverse since Indonesia epitomizes unity in diversity,” Jokowi said.