TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated four ministers and one deputy minister at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday afternoon, September 8, 2025. The inauguration took place after Prabowo revamped the composition of coordinating ministers, ministers, and deputy ministers. The coordinating ministers and ministers who were shifted are the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan; Minister of Cooperatives, Budi Arie; Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo; Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani; and Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said that this cabinet reshuffle is not aimed at eliminating the ministers from the era of the 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). "No, not at all," Prasetyo Hadi responded to reporters' questions at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
Prasetyo explained that the ministers inaugurated on Monday are the best sons that Indonesia has. The selection of ministers is also the prerogative of President Prabowo. "It's not about who, it's about them being the best sons of Indonesia," Pras continued.
The ministers and deputy ministers were inaugurated based on Presidential Decree Number 86 of 2025. This decree appointed Mochamad Irfan Yusuf as the Minister of Hajj and Umrah; Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak as the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah; Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as the Finance Minister; Mukhtarudin as the Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI); and Ferry Juliantono as the Minister of Cooperatives.
They were then sworn in by President Prabowo according to the Islamic faith. "By Allah, I swear that I will be loyal to the 1945 Indonesian Constitution, and will uphold all laws and regulations for the sake of my devotion to the nation and state," the five ministers and deputy ministers simultaneously pledged.
They pledged to uphold the ethics of their positions and to work to the best of their abilities with full responsibility.
Palace Denies Sri Mulyani's Resignation
Prasetyo Hadi denied that Sri Mulyani resigned from her position as Finance Minister, leading to the reshuffle.
President Prabowo Subianto removed Sri Mulyani and appointed Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as the Finance Minister at the inauguration at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday afternoon, September 8, 2025. "It's not resignation, not dismissal. As the head of state and government, we all understand that he has the prerogative. Then, based on his evaluation, he decided to make changes," Prasetyo said after the inauguration.
Prasetyo said there were many considerations for the President to replace Sri Mulyani. However, he asked the public not to question whether Sri Mulyani had resigned or not. "In the name of Allah, we pray together that the President's decision will bring goodness to us all," said Prasetyo.
Golkar Admits Recommending Mukhtarudin
Chair of the Golkar Party Bahlil Lahadalia said his party did recommend Mukhtarudin as the Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI). Bahlil said the cabinet reshuffle is the prerogative of President Prabowo Subianto. He said the party only suggested the names. "We from the party only made recommendations, but the decision remains with the President," said Bahlil at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, September 8, 2025.
However, he denied that the appointment of Mukhtarudin and the removal of Dito Ariotedjo as the Minister of Youth and Sports was a swap of ministerial positions. Because both of them are Golkar cadres. Mukhtarudin is the secretary of the Golkar Party faction. Meanwhile, Dito serves as the Chairman of the Golkar Central Board for Social Innovation and Mass Organizations. "I'm not saying it's a swap, but this is an assignment from the President," said Bahlil.
Dito Accepts the President's Decision
Dito Ariotedjo accepted President Prabowo Subianto's decision to dismiss him from his position as the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora). Dito said he had known about the cabinet reshuffle plan since Monday morning.
"Thank God, today I finished my term as Minister of Youth and Sports during the administration of President Prabowo-Gibran," said Dito at the Ministry of Youth and Sports office, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday evening as quoted by Antara.
He mentioned that President Prabowo expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the work he had done during his tenure as Menpora since April 2023. "God willing, his replacement will be announced soon," he said.
PDIP Asks Not to Be Linked to Reshuffle
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Guntur Romli said the reshuffle is the prerogative of Prabowo. He asked that his party not be linked to the reshuffle. "The reshuffle cannot be linked to PDIP because our position is a balancer," said Guntur in a brief message on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Guntur stated that there are no PDIP cadres in the Red and White Cabinet, both before and after the reshuffle. "There are no (members joining the government). We are outside the government and acting as a balancer," said Guntur.
One of the ministers who was ousted is Budi Gunawan from the position of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. Budi is a close associate of PDI Perjuangan Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri. He once served as Megawati's aide when the eldest daughter of Sukarno led the country. That is why Budi's presence in the Red and White Cabinet is sometimes referred to as a representation of PDIP in Prabowo's administration.
Cak Imin on Karding's Dismissal
Chair of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin responded to Abdul Kadir Karding's removal as the Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI). "Everything is the President's authority," said the Minister for Coordinating Human Development after the inauguration at the State Palace, Jakarta, September 8, 2025.
However, Cak Imin refused to comment on whether Karding's dismissal was due to a viral video of him playing dominoes with a businessman who had been involved in a case of illegal logging, Aziz Wellang. "I don't know. Every cabinet is the President's authority," Cak Imin said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chair of the Central Executive Board of the PKB Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal said the cabinet reshuffle is the president's prerogative. "It is the President's authority," said Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal when met at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
Regarding whether there are internal PKB affairs called by Prabowo, Cucun admitted he has not received any information. Meanwhile, when asked if PKB was offered a position in the cabinet, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives only responded, "It's directly up to the President."
Purbaya Ready to Improve the Economy
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the decline in the Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) after the reshuffle is a common occurrence.
The Composite Stock Price Index dropped by 100.50 points or 1.28 percent to 7,766.85 at the close of trading on Monday, September 8, 2025. The decline in the IHSG occurred after news of the reshuffle circulated.
However, Purbaya said that he has been in the stock market for more than 15 years, so he knows exactly how to improve the economy.
"Because I've been in the market for a long time, more than 15 years. So I know exactly how to improve the economy," said Purbaya after the inauguration at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Purbaya said President Prabowo Subianto urged him to accelerate economic growth to 8 percent within 100 working days.
"He (the President) said not to take too long, to be quick. So let's try. Just now, after the inauguration (he conveyed)," said Purbaya.
According to Purbaya, achieving 8 percent economic growth this year is somewhat difficult considering the current situation. However, he is optimistic that there will be opportunities two or three years ahead,
"We will change the direction of the economy, which is currently slowing, to become faster first, we will adjust," he said.
Eka Yudha, Ervana, Antara, and Sultan Abdurahman contributed to the writing of this article.
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