Prabowo set to reshape Indonesian cabinet with new powers to ‘accommodate his allies’

President-elect Prabowo Subianto is set to reshape Indonesia’s government after parliament lifted limits on cabinet size, a move analysts say will help him consolidate power and reward allies but risks creating bureaucratic bloat.

Lawmakers, largely supportive of outgoing President Joko Widodo and Prabowo, passed revisions to the law on Thursday that eliminate the previous cap of 34 ministries in the cabinet.

Under these changes, Prabowo will be able to reorganise or spin off ministries when he assumes office in October, with the revisions set to become law once signed by Widodo. Earlier this month, two senior politicians from Prabowo’s coalition said he could expand his cabinet up to 44 ministerial seats, according to a report by local news outlet Detik.

“This law aims to build an effective and efficient system,” Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas told lawmakers on Thursday, adding the move would give the president “flexibility to form ministries in line with national interests”.

However, observers say these changes will enable Prabowo to create cabinet posts that he can then distribute to loyalists and key allies.