Indonesia's Outgoing Leader Gives Cabinet Jobs to Loyalists of Successor Prabowo

POLITIC - JAKARTA. Outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday appointed new cabinet ministers with close ties to his successor Prabowo Subianto, in a move aimed at smoothing the transition of power two months ahead of his departure.

Defence Minister Prabowo won the February election by a massive margin with the help of Widodo's huge popularity and political clout, in what is widely interpreted as a quid-pro-quo that will ensure the outgoing leader maintains influence after a decade in charge.