Indonesia’s Widodo rejigs cabinet in move seen as boosting Prabowo, ensuring continuity

During an inauguration ceremony on Monday morning, the incumbent swore in his close aide and former investment minister Bahlil Lahadalia as the new energy and mineral resources minister and Rosan Roeslani, who headed Prabowo’s presidential campaign, replaced Bahlil as the country’s new investment minister.

Supratman Andi Agtas, a member of Prabowo’s Gerindra party, was named minister of law and human rights.

This was Widodo’s fourth cabinet reshuffle in the past 12 months, with analysts saying it was surprising for an outgoing leader to make significant cabinet changes so close to the end of his term.

This reshuffle was likely to serve as a “foundation for the next administration,” said Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political analyst with the Jakarta-based National Research and Innovation Agency.

“It seems to be an effort that will help serve Prabowo’s main programmes and campaign pledges,” Wasisto said.

Widodo named Dadan Hindayana, a professor, as chief of the newly created national nutrition agency that is set to oversee one of Prabowo’s campaign promises, a scheme – seen by many as excessive – to provide 83 million Indonesian schoolchildren with free meals.

The programme is estimated to cost 71 trillion rupiah (US$4.4 billion) in 2025 and up to US$27 billion annually when fully implemented by 2029.

Last month, Widodo also appointed two members of Prabowo’s inner circle as deputy ministers in his cabinet, including Prabowo’s nephew, Thomas Djiwandono, as second deputy finance minister and Sudaryono, a senior member of the Gerindra party, as deputy agriculture minister.

“The appointments of these ministers … and agency heads are necessary to facilitate a smooth, orderly and effective government transition,” coordinator of the