President Joko Widodo Appoints Saifullah Yusuf as Social Affairs Minister
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday formally appointed Saifullah Yusuf as the new Minister of Social Affairs, succeeding Tri Rismaharini, who resigned to focus on her candidacy in the upcoming 2024 local elections. The inauguration ceremony took place at 9 a.m. local time at the State Palace in Jakarta, marking Yusuf’s entry into Jokowi’s Onward Indonesia Cabinet.
Saifullah Yusuf, widely known as Gus Ipul, is set to serve as Social Affairs Minister for just over a month, with his term concluding on October 20, 2024, when President-elect Prabowo Subianto assumes office. Yusuf’s appointment highlights his extensive experience in public administration, having previously served as the mayor of Pasuruan, East Java, from 2021 until his cabinet appointment. He was also the deputy governor of East Java from 2009 to 2019.
Yusuf’s political career spans over two decades. He was the state minister for the development of disadvantaged regions from 2004 to 2007 during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration and has been a prominent figure in the National Awakening Party (PKB) since 2001. He began his political journey with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in 1999, later rejoining parliament in 2004 as a PKB representative.
Yusuf’s affiliation with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), one of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organizations, has been a significant aspect of his public service career. As the nephew of former Indonesian President and NU leader Abdurrahman Wahid, Yusuf served as NU’s secretary general, further strengthening his ties to the organization.
In addition to Yusuf’s appointment, President Widodo also inaugurated Inspector General Eddy Hartono as Chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) and Aida Suwandi Budiman as a commissioner of the Indonesian Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS). These appointments further align with the President’s efforts to bolster Indonesia’s governance and financial stability as his administration approaches its final phase.
