JAKARTA — Former military general Prabowo Subianto has officially been sworn in as Indonesia’s eighth president, marking the beginning of a new political era for Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The 73-year-old leader, long plagued by allegations of human rights abuses, took office on Sunday, succeeding former President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, who led the nation through a decade of economic growth and infrastructure development.
Prabowo, who had previously failed twice in his bids for the presidency, secured victory in February’s elections with over 58% of the vote. His running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son, was sworn in alongside him.
At the inauguration ceremony, attended by more than 30 global leaders and dignitaries, including British Foreign Minister David Lammy and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Prabowo vowed to lead as a president for all Indonesians and promised to tackle major issues such as corruption and poverty.
“We must always realise that a free nation is where the people are free,” Prabowo declared in his nearly hour-long inaugural address. “They must be freed of fear, poverty, hunger, ignorance, oppression, and suffering.”
Prabowo also emphasized Indonesia’s long-held policy of non-alignment in foreign affairs, affirming the nation’s stance of not allying with any major power blocs. He pledged to support oppressed people globally, saying, “We will stand against all colonialism and defend the interests of oppressed people worldwide.”
Following his inauguration, Prabowo announced a sweeping cabinet of 48 ministers and 58 vice-ministers, the largest since the 1960s. This marks a significant increase from Jokowi’s administration, which had 34 ministers and 30 vice-ministers. The new cabinet members were officially sworn in on Monday.
Several political analysts have suggested that Prabowo’s decision to reappoint 17 ministers from Jokowi’s cabinet is a political move to reward his predecessor, whose tacit support is believed to have played a crucial role in Prabowo’s electoral victory. Key figures such as Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto have retained their positions, signaling policy continuity in Indonesia’s economic direction.
Lina Miftahul Jannah, a public policy scholar, warned that the large size of the cabinet could complicate bureaucracy and slow down the policymaking process. “It’s resource-intensive, not just financially but in terms of time and energy,” she said.
Prabowo’s cabinet will begin their term with a three-day retreat at a military academy in central Java. The retreat, aimed at fostering unity and understanding of the president’s vision, will involve ministers and their deputies staying in tents, according to Abdul Kadir Karding, the migrant protection minister.
Prabowo is set to make his first international appearances as president at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the G20 summit in the coming months, further solidifying his position on the global stage.
