Indonesia's newly appointed cabinet will hold its first meeting on Monday after President Joko Widodo's choice of ministers received a mixed reaction.

Eight women were chosen out of a total of 34 positions

Mr Widodo unveiled his cabinet on Sunday, appointing the country's first ever female foreign minister.

Analysts broadly welcomed two technocrats to key economic posts to guide the country's economic reforms.

However, there was concern the president had given nearly half the jobs to political allies.

Mr Widodo, who was sworn in as president last week, had previously promised to promote professionals to top jobs rather than party officials.

"The process of defining the ministers was done carefully and cautiously as this is a priority," said Mr Widodo.

Retno Lestari Marsudi was chosen to be the first female foreign minister of Indonesia

He had asked the country's anti-corruption commission to vet candidates, an unprecedented move. The Corruption Eradication Commission rejected eight of his candidates based on graft concerns last week.

"The cabinet will be working for five years and we want to get the clean ones... because we want to be accurate and right," he said.

'Political interests'

Calling it the "Working Cabinet", Mr Widodo gave former state-owned enterprises minister Sofyan Djalil the position of co-ordinating minister of economics. Bambang Brodjonegoro was appointed finance minister.

Baradita Katoppo, Indonesia country head of Fitch Ratings, said the new economic ministers "are experienced and have a good track record".

Eight women were chosen out of a total of 34 positions. Among them is Retno Lestari Marsudi, the current ambassador to the Netherlands, who will be the country's first female foreign minister.

Paun Maharani, daughter of the former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, was chosen to be co-ordinating minister of human development and culture.

This appointment, and others of people close to Ms Megawati, who is head of Mr Widodo's party, sparked concerns of interference by the former president and pressure from parties that backed him in the country's July election.

Political observer Miftah Thoha from Gadjah Mada University told BBC Indonesia that Mr Widodo was "overshadowed by political interests" in choosing his ministers.

Source: BBC