Indonesia's new President Prabowo Subianto has officially sworn in the new Cabinet, whose composition, according to analysts, reflects continuity in the main policies of his predecessor Joko Widodo, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Prabovo took office yesterday as Indonesia's eighth president, and in his speech to lawmakers promised to fight corruption and for the country to start its own production in the fields of food and energy.
The Prabowo government has 48 ministries with over 100 ministers and deputies, with the ministers who retain their posts from the Widodo administration being Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlanga Hartarto and Minister of state enterprises Eric Thohir.
The finance minister will lead Prabowo's main programs, including the provision of free food for about 20 million children, which could cost the state budget $4.60 billion in the first year – an amount that aims to keep the annual fiscal deficit below the legally defined ceiling of 3% of the gross domestic product.
„Prabovo does not want to take additional risks and therefore chose key figures who worked during Widodo's administration,” said a local analyst, adding that these appointments give Prabowo some political security.
Indonesia's new foreign minister is Sugiono, vice chairman of Prabowo's political party, “Movement for Greater Indonesia” (Gerindra), and second in rank in the parliamentary committee.
Luhut Panjaitan, who was the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investments, was appointed in the Prabowo government to head the country's National Economic Council.
Prabovo's cabinet differs in certain aspects from Joko Widodo's, as some ministries have been renamed or separated into different structures, such as the Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.