President Joko Widodo has been hailed as the country's first leader who has no ties to the past corrupt regime. Because of this, his clean track record and humble personality, Indonesians have high expectations and hopes that the country can finally move forward and become advanced.

He was supposed to pick the most capable ministers that can implement his new – and revolutionary – ideas and programs. But we see a compromise cabinet. It is the definition of politics in its rawest form: Who gets what, when and how.

At least 21 ministers in the 34-member cabinet are either representatives of political parties or have links to political figures supporting him. We also see a mismatch between the personnel and the posts.

Our assessment of his economic team is mixed at best. He has made a solid selection in Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro and Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara but has picked questionable figures in State Enterprise Minister Rini Soemarno and Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

The inclusion of Puan Maharani, the daughter of Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as a coordinating minister for human resources development and culture is an example of a political compromise. Being a senior minister, she will oversee large funds and a wide portfolio, including health, education and social welfare. We can only imagine that the shoe is too big for her.

We are disappointed because we had high expectations. This is Joko's cabinet, not Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's. In any case, however, we welcome the cabinet as it could have been worse. As Joko said, it's a working cabinet, and we hope the fruits of their work can prove us wrong.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/editorial-political-compromise-taints-jokos-cabinet/