It's about time that we see President Joko Widodo push back against the pernicious influence of political forces surrounding him. Several politicians from Joko's own party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, have tried to bully him in the last few weeks over his decision to delay the inauguration of three-star general and graft suspect Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as National Police chief.

One PDI-P lawmaker was so bold as to declare that Joko won't last more than two years without the party's support. It may have been a wake-up call.

One saving grace of this week's realization that the very same people who helped Joko become president, whether in the party machinery or in the electorate, no longer support him. It's an opportunity to redefine the terms by which he engages in politics.

Many are disappointed but still idolize him. These folks are his greatest source of strength, without whom he would otherwise still be a furniture trader from a small city in Central Java.

Their pressure possibly sparked his conscience and common sense to decide that he must summon the bravery to shake off the political shackles that have forced him to become just another politician doing backroom deals for political survival.

The president's move to form an independent team of highly regarded figures to advise him in how to extricate himself from the conflict between the police and the national antigraft agency is a fine first step.

On Thursday, Joko invited his archrival Prabowo Subianto, the de facto leader of the opposition, to meet at the Bogor Presidential Palace.

After presumably securing a guarantee from Prabowo that his presidency will be safe until the end of his term in 2019, or at least cultivating that impression, he can show to Megawati Soekarnoputri and her PDI-P cohorts how easily he can change sides.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-jokowis-good-cop-bad-cop-play-yanks-chain/