Why Palace Is Confident New Finance Minister Will Succeed

September 15, 2026 | 10:23 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari said he was confident Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara could help keep Indonesia’s economy growing. Qodari also said Suahasil has the academic background and experience needed to carry out the job.

“We are very confident that Mr. Suahasil will perform very well in carrying out his duties as finance minister,” Qodari said in a written statement issued by Bakom on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Qodari highlighted two factors behind his confidence that Suahasil could maintain fiscal stability.

First, he said Suahasil has a strong academic background as a professor of economics at the University of Indonesia (UI).

Second, Qodari said Suahasil was already familiar with the Finance Ministry’s operations after previously serving as deputy finance minister.

“He knows the ins and outs of the Finance Ministry very well because he spent around six to seven years as deputy finance minister. Before that, he also served as head of the Fiscal Policy Agency here,” Qodari said.

Qodari said Suahasil’s experience could help him pursue economic growth while maintaining stability. He pointed to the state budget, or APBN, as an important tool for supporting economic activity while keeping the economy stable.

“That is one of Mr. Suahasil’s strengths, especially in a situation like this. Of course, the state budget is one of the important instruments to drive the economy while maintaining Indonesia’s economic stability,” he said.

President Prabowo Subianto reshuffled his cabinet on Monday, September 14, 2026, removing Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as finance minister and promoting Suahasil, who had served as deputy finance minister, to the post.

Suahasil is the third finance minister in Prabowo’s administration, following Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Purbaya.

After his appointment, Suahasil said Prabowo had instructed him to maintain the credibility and health of the state budget so it could continue funding the government’s priority programs.

“The state budget, as part of state finances, must be able to fund the government’s priority programs. Therefore, the state budget must be healthy and credible. The state budget must be trusted,” Suahasil said on Monday.

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