Indonesia’s Prabowo Considering Offering Sri Mulyani a Cabinet Post: Sources

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s incoming president, Prabowo Subianto, is reportedly considering offering current Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati a position in his cabinet, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Sri Mulyani, who previously served as a managing director at the World Bank, is being considered to either continue as finance minister or take on the role of coordinating minister of economic affairs due to the strong confidence financial markets have in her, one source said. “There must be a name that has international reputation in Prabowo’s cabinet,” the source added.

Prabowo, who is still deliberating on his finance chief, has not made a final decision, according to the second source. Both representatives for Sri Mulyani and Prabowo did not respond to requests for comment. The finance ministry also declined to comment on the matter.

Speculation about Prabowo’s finance minister has intensified following his remarks earlier this year about plans to increase debt, which raised concerns in local bond and currency markets. However, at a recent economic forum, Prabowo hinted he would retain several capable ministers from President Joko Widodo’s administration, though no specific names were mentioned.

Sri Mulyani, a respected figure in global financial circles, has been widely praised for her efforts in reforming Indonesia’s taxation system and managing the country’s economy during several crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.