Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has picked Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi to take over Retno Marsudi’s ministerial post for two days as the diplomat goes on an overseas trip.

According to a Communications Minister press release, Jokowi has picked Budi Arie as the ad interim foreign minister. Retno, the incumbent foreign minister, will go on a business trip abroad on January 21-22. Budi Arie will be covering for Retno during that trip. The press release, however, did not say where Retno will be heading. 

Budi’s appointment as the interim foreign minister came not long after the government dismissed rumors of a mass cabinet resignation. Senior economist Faisal Basri recently alleged that 15 ministers --including Retno-- would possibly leave the cabinet due to disagreements over Jokowi’s support for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. 

Budi told reporters Friday that he had spoken to the rumored ministers himself, and asked whether they were actually thinking of leaving the cabinet. According to Budi, Retno denied wanting to resign her ministerial post and was busy addressing the conflict in Gaza.

“Retno is currently preparing for a UN Security Council session on Gaza,” Budi Arie said.

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