March 17, 2026 | 08:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said he wants optimistic people in his administration and has no place for pessimism in his inner circle, as he explained why he chose Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to replace Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister.
Prabowo made the remarks in a special interview with Bloomberg at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, over the weekend.
In the interview, Prabowo said Purbaya had been widely recommended as a candidate for the Red and White Cabinet. He recalled first taking notice of the economist during a seminar where Purbaya gave a presentation.
“I attended one seminar and he gave a presentation. And I thought, hey, this guy knows what he’s talking about,” Prabowo said, as quoted by Bloomberg.
Prabowo said he saw Purbaya as an optimistic and energetic figure—qualities he considers essential in his cabinet.
“He’s optimistic. He’s bullish. And I need people who are optimistic, you know? I don’t need pessimists around me. That’s not my nature,” he said.
Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa was sworn in as finance minister on September 8, 2025, replacing Sri Mulyani Indrawati after a cabinet reshuffle. Before joining the cabinet, he served as chairman of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).
Prabowo said he had become more convinced of his decision after working directly with Purbaya in recent months.
“And then when I tried him, I think he’s doing well. He has a very good grasp of macroeconomics,” Prabowo said.
Earlier, during a full cabinet meeting on Friday, March 13, 2026, Purbaya told Prabowo that Indonesia’s economy remained in solid shape. He said several indicators in February showed economic activity was accelerating.
“So we are far from what is called a ‘chaotic’ economy, as the economists outside say, Sir. On TikTok, many people are saying that,” Purbaya said at the Presidential Palace.
The finance minister has repeatedly sought to project confidence in the economy since taking office, even as markets reacted nervously to Sri Mulyani’s removal and concerns persisted over the government’s spending plans.
Anastasya Lavenia Yudi contributed to the writing of this article.
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