Jakarta – Chairman of the Democratic Party advisory council Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has given his permission for his son and party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono to serve in the cabinet of incumbent President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
Deputy secretary general of the Democratic Party Ossy Dermawan said that although the elder Yudhoyono did not join Agus' swearing in ceremony as the new agrarian and spatial planning minister and head of the National Land Agency (BPN), he had given his full support for Agus to assume the position.
"Pak SBY prays and gives his support for Mas Agus to carry out the state duties in the coming days," Ossy was quoted by Antara as saying.
On Wednesday, outgoing President Jokowi inaugurated Agus as the new agrarian and spatial minister replacing Hadi Thahjanto, whom the President promoted to be the new coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.
Jokowi's move to name Agus a minister in his cabinet has been seen as a reward for the Democratic Party's decision to back the presidential bid of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in the Feb. 14 presidential election. Prabowo is now leading in the official vote count conducted by the General Elections Commission (KPU).
The Democratic Party's move to back Prabowo's bid was announced after Agus was dropped from the list of potential running mates for opposition presidential candidate Anies Baswedan.
Anies finally chose National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate.