Prabowo marks two years as Indonesia’s president amid spending and political pressures
Indonesia’s government points to growth and expanded free meals as Prabowo enters his third year, while the cost and oversight of his programmes draw scrutiny.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto marked two years in office on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as his government highlighted economic growth and an expanded free-meals programme. The cost and oversight of his plans are among the pressures facing his third year, Channel NewsAsia reported.
Prabowo and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming took office on 20 October 2024 for a term running through 2029, according to Indonesia’s State Secretariat. Prabowo’s administration has since pointed to rice self-sufficiency and progress toward energy independence as achievements, Channel NewsAsia reported.
Growth and the cost of free meals
Indonesia’s economy grew 5.45% in the first half of 2026, and the International Monetary Fund raised its full-year growth forecast, according to Channel NewsAsia. The outlet reported that public expenditure contributed significantly to growth: government spending rose 21.81% in the first quarter and 15.97% in the second.
Parliament approved a 2027 budget in September with projected spending above US$228 billion, Channel NewsAsia reported. More than 57 million people, including schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, were receiving meals through Prabowo’s flagship nutrition programme. At least US$15 billion was earmarked for it in the 2027 budget. Reported food-poisoning incidents have raised concerns about food safety and oversight.
Another proposal would remove tuition fees for nearly three million undergraduate and diploma students at state universities. The government estimated that it would cost an additional 93 trillion rupiah a year, Channel NewsAsia reported. The plan has not been implemented, leaving its financing a question for the administration.
Indonesia caps its annual budget deficit at 3% of gross domestic product. Some lawmakers have called for a review of that limit to allow more spending. Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the Jakarta-based Centre of Economic and Law Studies, warned that changing it could damage confidence in the government’s fiscal management, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Cabinet changes ahead of the 2029 election
Prabowo made his seventh and largest cabinet reshuffle this month, replacing officials responsible for economic, diplomatic and security portfolios, Channel NewsAsia reported. Political observers cited by the outlet said keeping his broad coalition together could become harder ahead of the 2029 election, amid signs of declining public approval.
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Sources and context
- Indonesian President Prabowo marks 2 years in office with economic gains, but challenges loomChannel NewsAsia
- Prabowo Subianto dan Gibran Rakabuming Resmi Dilantik Sebagai Presiden dan Wakil Presiden RISekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.