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President Sacks Finance Minister, Four Others in Surprise Cabinet Shake-Up
No fewer than five Ministers have been sacked by the President, News Week Nigeria reports.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed five ministers, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, in a surprise cabinet reshuffle amid mounting public anger over economic hardship and political privilege.
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The shake-up, announced on Monday, followed weeks of protests that erupted after revelations that all 580 lawmakers were receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075)—almost ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage.
The demonstrations, which turned violent in several cities, left at least seven people dead, according to police. The National Commission on Human Rights put the death toll at 10 and accused security forces of using excessive force.
Sri Mulyani, a respected technocrat and former senior official at the IMF and World Bank, was replaced by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the chairman of Indonesia’s Deposit Insurance Corporation and a veteran economic adviser.
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At his first press briefing, the 61-year-old Sadewa vowed to boost growth and streamline state spending but ruled out sweeping fiscal reforms.
Other cabinet members removed include the ministers in charge of politics and security, cooperatives, youth and sports, and migrant worker protection.
The protests gained momentum after the death of 21-year-old motorcycle courier Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by an armored police vehicle while delivering food during demonstrations. His death struck a chord with young workers, many of whom struggle with low wages and high unemployment.
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Security forces responded with riot gear, water cannons, and tear gas, even storming university campuses. President Prabowo defended the crackdown, alleging that elements within the protests bore “signs of treason and terrorism.”
Although calm has returned in recent days after the president revoked lawmakers’ housing perks and suspended most overseas trips, the unrest has fueled wider concerns about Prabowo’s leadership style and the military’s growing influence in civilian affairs.
Prabowo, a former special forces commander once barred from entering the United States over human rights allegations, now faces the daunting task of rebuilding public trust while keeping his administration intact.
