REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has hinted that he will not replace Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who is concurrently the general chairman of Golkar Party.

Hartarto was already a minister when he was appointed as general chairman of Golkar on December 14, 2017, to replace Setya Novanto, he remarked.

"We already know that Mr Airlangga is a minister. Only one year is left. If a new person is appointed, he would need six months to learn, and if (he) is not a fast learner, it would take a year," the head of state explained.

The president noted that Hartarto had complete understanding of the industry sector and had mastered it.

Replacing him would cause a time gap, as a new minister would need a year to learn.

President Jokowi, on Wednesday, swore in Idrus Marham, the secretary general of Golkar Party, as the social affairs minister to replace Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who had resigned as she is contesting for the post of East Java governor in the upcoming regional head elections.

Bambang Soesatyo, a senior politician of Golkar, is now the speaker of the House of Representatives.

President Jokowi is eying a second term in office by winning the Presidential Election in 2019.

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