President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's United Indonesia Cabinet is a mixture of old and new faces, comprising members of several political parties, as well as experienced professionals and retired military officers.
The 36-member cabinet contains several veteran politicians who held positions in the administrations of former presidents Megawati Sukarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid and B.J. Habibie.
In a telling sign of Yudhoyono's military background, the cabinet has four retired military officers but only two members of his fledgling Democrat Party.
The four former military officers are: Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adisutjipto, Home Affairs Minister Mochtar Maruf, Maritime and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi, and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi.
Adisutjipto, Maruf and Silalahi were all members of Yudhoyono's campaign team, as were two professionals now in the cabinet: Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, and Information and Communications Minister Sofyan Djalil.
The two Democrat Party members with ministerial portfolios are Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik and State Apparatus Efficiency Minister Taufik Effendi.
Interestingly, five of Megawati's ministers were retained in the new cabinet, although none are members of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Social Affiars Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah all kept their portfolios. Megawati's justice and human rights minister Yusril Izha Mahendra was promoted to the influential position of state secretary. Megawati's research and technology minister Hatta Rajasa is now Transportation Minister.
Former vice president Hamzah Haz's Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) won three posts: Social Affairs Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah, Cooperatives and Small-Medium Enterprises Minister Suryadharma Ali and State Enterprises Minister Sugiharto.
Two of Golkar Party's stalwarts received positions: Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Fahmi Idris. Both are close to Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is also a Golkar functionary.
The Islam-based Crescent Star Party (PBB), which had backed Yudhoyono for the presidency, was rewarded with two positions: State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban.
Former president Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB) also received two portfolios: Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab and Acceleration of Development in Less-Developed Regions Minister Syaifullah Yusuf.
Two cabinet posts also went to members of Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN): Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa and National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo.
The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) is represented by Women's Empowerment Minister Meuthia Farida Hatta-Swasono.
The Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) received one position – People's Housing Minister Muhammad Yusuf Ashari – but also apparently influenced the selection of Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Adhyaksa Dault.
Reports said PKS also allegedly used its influence to have certain ministerial candidates dropped from the cabinet line-up because they were deemed too "pro-Western" and "pro-IMF".
Can't please everyone
Yudhoyono acknowledged that his cabinet line-up would not satisfy all parties and members of the public. "There are always pros and cons. It's impossible for these names to be agreed to by all circles or to satisfy all parties," he said.
Despite rumors of last-minute backroom negotiations and readjustments to the cabinet line-up, Yudhoyono said he selected his ministers in accordance with the criteria he had set.
"For me, what's important is their performance, hard work and service, so that in five years from now the Indonesian nation's condition will be better. Thus, we must see this cabinet remain intact," he said.