By Lucy Adautin
Indonesia’s newly inaugurated President, Prabowo Subianto, swore in his cabinet on Monday, a team reflecting continuity with the policies of his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Prabowo, now the eighth Indonesian president, took office on Sunday, pledging to combat corruption and achieve food and energy self-sufficiency during his fiery address to lawmakers.
His “red and white” cabinet, consisting of 48 ministries with over 100 ministers and deputies, includes key re-appointments such as Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister and Bahlil Lahadalia as energy minister.
Mulyani will oversee major initiatives, such as a program to provide free meals to 20 million children, projected to cost 71 trillion rupiah ($4.60 billion) in its first year while maintaining a fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP.
Mulyani, a former World Bank managing director, has been praised for her work in tax reform under two previous presidents. When questioned about future fiscal policies, she simply stated that she was “ready for duty.”
However, investors are concerned that Prabowo’s ambitious spending plans could compromise Indonesia’s fiscal prudence, a key factor in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Other notable re-appointments include Airlangga Hartarto as chief economic minister and Erick Thohir as state-owned enterprises minister. Meutya Hafid, a former journalist, will lead the renamed communications and digital ministry, with a focus on data protection, online safety for children, and ensuring internet access for all.
Investment minister Rosan Roeslani aims to expand Jokowi’s policies on domestic resource processing to sectors like fisheries and seaweed.
Analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi noted that these re-appointments indicate Prabowo’s intent to continue Jokowi’s economic policies, minimizing risks and offering political security.
The new foreign minister is Sugiono, deputy of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy, while Zulkifli Hasan, in charge of food supply, aims to boost farming in Papua to meet Prabowo’s food self-sufficiency goal. Luhut Pandjaitan, a key figure from Jokowi’s government, will lead the National Economic Council, advising the president.
While some ministries were restructured or renamed such as the separation of education and culture, and environment and forestry—Prabowo’s cabinet largely mirrors Jokowi’s approach.
Prior to the inauguration, Prabowo met with China’s Vice President Han Zheng, according to posts on social media and China’s foreign ministry.
