Jokowi appoints Prabowo's nephew as Indonesia vice finance minister

JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday appointed a nephew of Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto as a vice finance minister of Indonesia, suggesting the growing influence of the Prabowo family in the country's next government.

The new vice minister, Thomas Djiwandono, serves as the treasurer of Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party. Even though he is not an elected member of parliament, he has already been actively involved in discussions with the finance ministry and parliament over Indonesia's state budget next year, including for Prabowo's free school meal plan, the capital relocation and other programs.