Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said Wednesday that there was no 'political pressure' behind his nomination as the Bank Indonesia (BI) governor.

He played down the notion that politicians and politically-wired businessmen with whom he was frequently at loggerheads as Finance Minister that had influenced President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"There is no political pressure behind my nomination as BI Governor," said Agus at an economic conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

Agus is the sole candidate for BI Governor to replace Darmin Nasution, whose term ends in May. Many analysts expected Darmin to be re-elected or other candidates would come from inside the central bank.

Agus said that being nominated as BI Governor did not mean that he was assigned to a less prestigious post. "I think it is an honor for me," he said.

As reported earlier by The Jakarta Post, sources in the House and the Cabinet claim that Yudhoyono's decision to nominate Agus as the BI Governor was triggered by lobbying.

It was widely known that Agus has deep disagreements with Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie over the government's decision to purchase 7 percent of gold miner PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara where a Bakrie company has a vested interest.

The minister also opposed the Sunda Strait Bridge project handled by influential tycoon Tomy Winata through his Artha Graha Group. (ebf)