Newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto has sworn in a cabinet of 109 members, marking the largest in Indonesia’s history since 1966, The Associated Press reports.
Dubbed the “Red and White Cabinet” after the national flag, the lineup includes ministers, vice ministers, and heads of national agencies, reflecting Subianto’s commitment to a “strong government.”
The previous cabinet under Joko Widodo, Subianto’s predecessor, had 34 members. The last time Indonesia saw a cabinet of this size was during the presidency of Sukarno, who formed a 132-member cabinet in 1966 amidst a tense political climate following a failed coup.
Subianto justified the size of his cabinet by emphasizing the need for a strong administration to unite Indonesia’s diverse society and political interests. He pointed out that the cabinet features representatives from a coalition of seven parties that supported his victory in the February election, alongside figures from Widodo’s cabinet who have been reappointed.
The formation of this large cabinet has drawn criticism from some analysts, who believe it will lead to bureaucratic bloat.
Subianto’s cabinet includes several notable figures:
• Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka: The 37-year-old son of Joko Widodo, chosen by Subianto as his running mate, marking a unique alliance between the former rivals.
• Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati: The 62-year-old veteran minister, known for her reforms in the taxation system and her leadership during the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, will be serving under her third president.
• Other key figures from Widodo’s cabinet: Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.
Subianto has set ambitious goals for his five-year term, aiming for an 8% annual economic growth rate and a significant spending program, including increased defense spending, salary hikes for civil servants, and a program to provide free meals to 83 million children.
