Soekiman Cabinet

On 21 March 1951, the Natsir cabinet fell due to loss of political support.[1] Five days later, President Sukarno asked Indonesian National Party (PNI) leader and parliamentary chairman Sartono to form a coalition cabinet, but he admitted failure on 18 April. On the same day, Sukarno asked the chairman of the Masyumi Party party council Soekiman Wirjosandjojo and PNI chairman Sidik Djojosukarto to try, giving them five days, then an extra three days. Both men agreed that both parties would have same number of seats. However, there was disagreement over the post of prime minister. Eventually the PNI gave in to Soekiman's demand for a Masjumi prime minister providing this was not Natsir, who had held the position in the previous cabinet. Sukarno subsequently suggested Soekiman himself for the role, which he accepted. This led to a disagreement between the Soekiman and Natsir factions within the party, and the Natsir-led Masjumi executive body refused to accept Sidik and Soekiman's suggested composition for the cabinet. As a result, no members of Natsir's faction were appointed.[2]

The composition of the cabinet was announced on 26 April. Like its predecessor, it was based around a PNI-Masjumi nucleus. However, the Masjumi members were supporters of the Soekiman faction in the party, and the opposing Natsir-led faction criticized the make-up of the new cabinet. Only six members from the previous cabinet were given posts. The composition was as follows:[3][4]

The cabinet announced a six-point program with a stronger emphasis on public order and with less emphasis on early elections than its predecessor. The program was as follows:[6][7]

1. Take firm measures to guarantee security and order. Reform the organizations that exercise state power.
2. Draw up and implement a national prosperity program to improve people's welfare in the short term.
3. Complete preparations for a general election to establish a constitutional assembly. Hold this election in the near future. Accelerate the implementation of regional autonomy.
4. Pass laws on the recognition of trade unions and on collective agreements.
5. Implement a free and active foreign policy aimed at bringing about peace. Implement the Dutch-Indonesian union as a normal international treaty.
6. Incorporate Western New Guinea into the Republic of Indonesia at the earliest opportunity.

It also announced end-of-Ramadan bonuses and monthly rice assistance packets for civil servants, and decided to nationalise the Dutch-owned Java Bank (De Javasche Bank), which at the time was Indonesian's circulation bank.[8]