President Prabowo Subianto, a 73-year-old former general, has elected 48 ministers and 58 deputies, in the same line as the figures who were part of the Executive of his predecessor, Joko Widodo. In yesterday’s inaugural speech, he promised the eradication of poverty and non-alignment in foreign policy. In the coming days the “red and white” administration will hold a three-day retreat at a military academy.
Jakarta () – Yesterday, after taking the oath, the new president of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, announced the formation of the new Executive, made up of 48 ministers and 58 deputies, a considerable increase compared to the 34 ministers and 30 deputies of his predecessor , Joko Widodo. However, several personalities have been confirmeda decision that analysts consider to be a response to Widodo’s tacit support, which allowed the candidacy and subsequent election of his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as vice president of Indonesia.
“It gives the impression that Prabowo wants to pay off those who supported him politically instead of prioritizing institutional reforms,” political scientist Lina Miftahul Jannahalla told the BBC. On the list there are also people close to the businessmen who financed his election campaign, such as the Minister of State Enterprises, Erick Thohir. Others maintain that the new government will follow the course set over the last 10 years by Jokowi, which has focused primarily on economic development and infrastructure construction.
The government team will continue to include Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, who carried out the reform of the Indonesian tax system and will coordinate what is considered the new president’s signature program: the distribution of free meals to 20 million children in the country. .
Prabowo, a 73-year-old retired general, accused of violating human rights, was elected in February with 58% of the vote after two failed attempts to come to power. In his inauguration speech he promised to eradicate corruption and poverty and declared that he wanted to achieve food and energy self-sufficiency before the end of his five-year term. “That is why I invite the Indonesian people to join the entire nation in achieving our common interests and goals,” said the new president.
One of its declared objectives is economic growth of 8%, an unattainable objective according to one source. due to “the lack of capital to finance all projects.” Others have expressed concern about an Executive (called “Merah-Putih”, red-white, the colors of the Indonesian flag) which, due to dozens of new positions, risks being extremely expensive and inoperative.
The last time Indonesia had a cabinet with more than 40 ministers was from 1993 to 1998, during former President Suharto’s last term. In May, the law that set the maximum number of ministries at 34 was abolished. The first activity in which the new Executive will participate will be a three day retreat from October 25 to 27 at a military academy in central Java. Ministers and their deputies will stay in tents and participate in meetings to better understand Prabowo’s vision.
On the foreign policy front, however, it has confirmed Indonesia’s well-established non-alignment policy, according to which a balance between the major powers, China and the United States, is preferred. “We will oppose any form of colonialism and defend the interests of oppressed peoples around the world,” Prabowo said. Nearly 30 heads of state and government participated in the inauguration ceremony, including the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong, as well as the British Foreign Minister, David Lammy. and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng (with whom he met behind closed doors before taking the oath).
Prabowo’s first international engagement will be the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum scheduled for next November, which will be immediately followed by the G20 summit.
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