REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Abdullah Sammy/Twitter:sammy_republika

It's hard to argue against the notion that there are common interest competitions on current Jokowi’s government. It began from the selection of cabinet; the scent of interest competition has been felt.

All were related to the inclusion of Center Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to screen minister candidates. As a result, several names proposed by political party were ruled out. At that time, some say, involving the Commission on the selection is a Jokowi's smart way to deny political parties ministerial candidates.

On the other hand, ahead of the announcement of the minister, suddenly it was appeared another interesting story that worth to be observed. Maruarar Sirait who had been summoned to the Palace and distributed ministerial white color clothe, dropped in the last second from ministers list. Logically, it is impossible to say that the deletion is done purely by Palace initiative.

It’s too cruel to imagine if the Palace give ministerial clothes to a candidate, but at the last hours, the person who shared it to be deleted. It may be there is other 'Palace' out of Jalan Istana Merdeka which affect the decision.

For many people, the real Palace located at Jalan Teuku Umar. Indeed, since the beginning of his presidency, Jokowi was seen as a president who cannot be separated from the shadows of the chairman of supporting political parties, especially the PDI-P.

All of this assumption was related to a late political speech to determine Jokowi as a PDIP presidential candidate, in May 2014. Here are some quotes of Chairman of PDIP Megawati Sukarnoputri speech,  "Mr. Jokowi, you are made as a candidate, but you are the party officials who should run the task of the party."

After the speech, Jokowi's political opponent, like Fahri Hamzah, directly labeled Jokowi as a puppet president controlled by other. But is Jokowi such an innocent and easy to be controlled by a particular party?

The evidence that Jokowi openly involve KPK when fixing the minister candidate names should also be seen an answer for everything. In fact, he actually could ask for KPK's recommendations secretly.

Jokowi instead chose to publicly announce the eight candidates for ministers who were red lighted by KPK. By making it widely open to the public, practically, Jokowi close the space for those who were disappointed to fight back. Whoever against it, meaning they are pro corruption. It’s as simple as that.

As a result, the strategy puts Jokowi to have a trump card to resist pressure from any party. If the scenario is true, then Jokowi is intelligent enough to fight back smoothly.

So what about the election of the Attorney General or Chief of Police? Why did Jokowi become a lick-spittle by not involving the KPK?

The answer could be two. First Jokowi is applying a double standard. Secondly, the power who want to control the government has been learned from the case of ministerial selection. That means there might be a pressure to Presidential Palace for no longer involve KPK.

As a result, the selection procedure of Attorney General and Chief of Police were done in a closed door. What was clearly legible to the public, the selection of the Attorney General initiated by the arrival of Chairman of Nasdem, Surya Paloh to the Palace. This time Paloh came to the Palace not Teuku Umar Street, but the Presidential Palace.

After Paloh visit, Nasdem politician, HM Prasetyo, elected as Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia. Practically, the appointment of the Attorney General attracted severe public criticism for Jokowi.

But uncharacteristically, Jokowi choose to be reluctantly talkative. The same thing was happened on Chief of Police candidate selection. Without any too much fanfare, the name of Budi Gunawan (BG) submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR). In the midst of the silence, the confidential nomination letter of BG circulated publicly. The question is who leaked the secret letter?

The answer is just pursed into two parties. The first is DPR as the purpose of the letter was sent. Secondly, it might be actually leaked by the Palace itself the side that makes the letter.

Clearly, the consequences of making it widely circulated, public including KPK, immediately knew the name of Police Chief Candidates. On the other hand, immediately, one of the social media activists known as Jokowi's volunteer said that Jokowi was coerced to file Police Chief Candidate name by 'the Palace' at Teuku Umar.

In the midst of the controversy, new surprises emerge. KPK directly names the police chief candidate as corruption suspect. Naming the candidat as a suspect was done a day before the process of feasibility and appropriateness test in DPR.

Along with it, the KPK explained that from the eight minister candidates who had been recognized by Jokowi to be red lighted, there was BG name. KPK's statement stirs new question. Does it make sense, when Jokowi choose his own candidate for Police chief, from a list which ever been refused as a minister?

The circuit is ultimately converging on a way that could make Jokowi to cancel BG as Police chief candidate. If the volunteer statement was true about coercion for Jokowi, the Palace now has a chance to reestablish its dignity. Because the National Palace is only one and its located at Jalan Merdeka, not Jalan Teuku Umar.

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