Indonesia’s Jokowi Makes Final Cabinet Changes Before Leaving Office

AFP/APP

Jakarta: Indonesian President Joko Widodo reshuffled his cabinet on Monday, just weeks before stepping down to ease the transition to his successor, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto. Widodo, known as Jokowi, will hand over the reins in October, leaving office with high approval ratings for his economic track record, which delivered consistent growth following the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Monday morning, Jokowi swore in new ministers for law and human rights, energy and mineral resources, and investment, as well as a new head of the food and drug agency and the chief of the newly created national nutrition agency.

Former investment minister Bahlil Lahadalia, a close aide and vocal supporter of Jokowi, was appointed as the new Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. This move aligns with Jokowi’s push to boost nickel production. Rosan Roeslani, who previously led Prabowo’s presidential campaign, replaced Lahadalia as the country’s new investment minister. Supratman Andi Agtas, a member of Prabowo’s Gerindra party, was appointed Minister of Law and Human Rights.

“The appointments of these ministers and agency heads are necessary to facilitate a smooth, orderly, and effective government transition,” said Ari Dwipayana, the coordinator of the president’s special staff, in a statement.

The new national nutrition agency was established to support Prabowo’s key campaign pledge of providing free meals to schoolchildren, a multibillion-dollar initiative.

Yunarto Wijaya, executive director of the research institute Charta Politika, noted that the new ministers, while serving transition purposes, are also “Prabowo’s people,” suggesting potential political undertones.

Jokowi, who grew up in a bamboo shack in a riverside slum on Java island, praised his government’s achievements in economic development and infrastructure during his final state of the nation address. Having served two terms in office, Jokowi will step down after a decade of leadership, having defeated Prabowo in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Prabowo, who won the recent election with Jokowi’s eldest son as his vice-presidential candidate, has benefited from Jokowi’s support and is expected to continue the popular economic policies. However, a key legacy project of Jokowi a $32-billion planned future capital on Borneo island remains stalled by construction delays and funding issues.