Indonesia's leader has been sworn in, accompanied by the largest cabinet in decades.
Former military general Prabowo Subianto was sworn in as Indonesia's president, unveiling the country's largest cabinet since the 1960s. The 73-year-old, long shadowed by human rights abuse allegations, became Indonesia's eighth president on Sunday, marking the end of Joko Widodo’s decade-long leadership, known for economic growth and infrastructure development.
After two previous failed attempts, Prabowo finally won the presidency with over 58% of the vote in February’s election. His running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of outgoing president Jokowi, was also sworn in alongside him.
Prabowo’s inauguration drew over 30 global leaders, including British Foreign Minister David Lammy, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
On Monday, Prabowo revealed his 48 ministers and 58 vice-ministers, a significant increase from Jokowi's 34 ministers and 30 vice-ministers. Many see the cabinet composition, with 17 reappointments from Jokowi’s administration, as a "political reward" for Jokowi’s support, which reportedly helped secure Prabowo's victory. Reappointed figures include Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
Public policy scholar Lina Miftahul Jannah described the cabinet as "bloated," potentially complicating bureaucracy and slowing down policy-making. Restructuring the ministries will also be resource-heavy, she noted. However, some analysts believe the appointments signal policy continuity in Indonesia, with Prabowo pledging to maintain Jokowi's development-focused agenda.
In his inauguration speech, Prabowo vowed to fight corruption and poverty, promising to be a president for all Indonesians. He emphasized freedom from fear, poverty, and oppression. He also reaffirmed Indonesia's non-alignment in global politics, committing to resist colonialism and support oppressed peoples worldwide.
Prabowo’s cabinet will begin their term with a three-day retreat at a military academy in central Java, aimed at fostering unity and aligning with the president’s vision. His first international appearances will be at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and the G20 summit next month.
