Indonesia’s Prabowo turns to technocrats to restore credibility amid criticism - South China Morning Post

Maria SiowPublished: 1:56pm, 2 Oct 2026Updated: 4:48pm, 2 Oct 2026Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s reshuffling of his cabinet signals an urgent need to address criticism and dipping ratings by banking on experienced technocrats and trusted figures in key positions.But while the appointment of a new foreign minister has raised hopes of some restraint on Prabowo’s more impulsive foreign policy decisions, analysts say the president’s self-imposed role as “chief diplomat” is unlikely to change.

Golkar party politician Muhammad Sarmuji was named minister of industry, replacing Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman will now serve as the coordinating minister for political and security affairs while Bahlil Lahadalia has been appointed coordinating minister for downstreaming and energy transition, a new position in the cabinet.