Paths to Power
True to his campaign promise, President Joko Widodo picked eight women to be in his 34-minister cabinet, and in line with his intention to make it a 'Working Cabinet' he chose professionals in their respective fields. They are an interesting mix of women, who followed very different paths to reach power. While their skills are not in doubt, it remains to be seen how they will manage to govern with a bureaucracy set in its ways and to deal with a legislature dominated by opposition parties.
The Academics
Three of the new lady ministers earned PhDs: Health Minister Nila Djuwita Anfasa Moeloek; Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise; and Environment and Forestry minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar.
Siti, a political appointee from Suryo Paloh's National Democrat (NasDem) Party, has a doctorate in natural resources planning, which seems apt for the minister presiding over the merger of the ministries of forestry and the environment. "When I think it over, Pak Jokowi's appointment of me actually matches my academic background," Siti commented to the media shortly after being sworn-in. But her professional experience, including a stint as the secretary-general of the home affairs ministry may be slightly off, as environmentalists were quick to point out.
November 11, 2014
True to his campaign promise, President Joko Widodo picked eight women to be in his 34-minister cabinet, and in line with his intention to make it a 'Working Cabinet' he chose professionals in their respective fields. They are an interesting mix of women, who followed very different paths to reach power. While their skills are not in doubt, it remains to be seen how they will manage to govern with a bureaucracy set in its ways and to deal with a le
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