Indonesia markets: Cabinet reshuffle leads to Finance Minister’s exit
Cabinet reshuffle and implications.
Group Research - Econs, Radhika Rao9 Sep 2025
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A cabinet reshuffle on Monday led to the sudden exit of well-respected Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani. President Prabowo appointed technocrat Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who served as chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation since 2020, as the new Finance Minister. Having led the ministry for more than a decade under two prior Presidents, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani was viewed as a strong supporter of fiscal rectitude as well as discipline. In the current administration, she had been tasked to stay within budgeted targets despite an increase in welfare spending plans, and delay in fresh revenue measures. Separately, the reshuffle saw changes in four other ministries, whilst a new one was formed. These moves come in wake of recent widespread protests in the country, during which there were reports of rioting and looting in the residences and workplaces of a few ministers, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani (see our report).

Onshore markets are likely to be cautious when trade resumes on Tuesday after the rupiah witnessed a kneejerk fall on Monday and stocks underperformed. Notably, since the new government assumed office in 4Q last year, there have been other broader changes in the finance/ fiscal related functions, including new appointees to head the customs and tax departments. In his first public comments, incoming Finance Minister Sadewa, assured that he had ample markets-based experience and had worked on past budget-related developments. For investors, it will be less about competence and more about the commitment to fiscal consolidation measures. In midst of hard-fought fiscal gains in the past, bond markets will be wary of fiscal slippage risks in the near-term in light of higher social spending needs, weak revenue run-rate and part of the revenues being channelled to the new sovereign agency. There might also be pressure to adopt a more aggressive easing cycle, and more instances of fiscal-monetary policy coordination akin to the recent burden sharing plan. Market participants will also monitor views on any legislative changes, especially with regard to BI’s mandate.

In 1H25, total expenditure was off to a slow start at +0.6% yoy, while revenue growth lagged at a decline of more than 8.0%. The new Finance Minister’s immediate task would be to raise spending, which might widen the 2026 budget deficit target, but stay within the -3% of GDP threshold. In the medium-term, there will be a need to tackle competing legacy issues, including a low tax to GDP ratio, need for new revenue generating measures, curtail the rising share of interest in overall spending and need to increase government expenditure to support growth, while exercising overall fiscal discipline. In the near-term, debt markets will look for upcoming budget plans, financing mix and signs of further monetary authority’s support to tackle any increase in bond supplies.

Radhika Rao

Senior Economist – Eurozone, India, Indonesia
[email protected]



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