New Cabinet line-up prioritises policy continuity and political stability

JAKARTA – Indonesia's new president Prabowo Subianto on Oct 20 announced his Cabinet line-up, the largest in recent history, with the team reflecting his aim to prioritise policy continuity and political stability.

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

The 48 ministers, announced by Mr Prabowo on the same day that he took office, feature a mix of politicians, professionals and business managers.

The list includes people close to the businessmen who funded his election campaign.

The ministers were chosen from six of the eight national political parties, as well as through recommendations by former president Joko Widodo and prominent Islamic organisations.

Mr Prabowo also named five other high-ranking, minister-level officers: attorney-general, head of intelligence unit, head of presidential staff, head of presidential communication office and Cabinet secretary.

This approach is expected to boost the administration's legitimacy and reduce potential tensions among political elites, said Mr Rudy Syamsuddin, a former chairman of a housing material producers' association in Indonesia.

“Such broad representation, however, could slow down decision-making due to the need to balance competing interests,” Mr Rudy told The Straits Times.

He said Mr Prabowo will likely reshuffle the Cabinet once he has gained enough political momentum some time in 2025. “It is important to keep everyone happy for now, during the transition.”

Noted political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi told Jakarta-based KompasTV: “With the large Cabinet size, the decision-making process would be more complicated and would not be efficient.”