Received a Financial Note from Prabowo, Puan reminded the success of the State Budget from the fulfillment of the people's hopes and needs

JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Chairwoman Puan Maharani chaired the Plenary Meeting for the Opening of the 2026-2027 Session as a sign of the start of the third year of the DPR's term of office for the 2024-2029 period.

In this plenary meeting, President Prabowo Subianto delivered the Government's Explanation on the Draft Law on the State Budget (APBN) for the 2027 Fiscal Year, along with the Financial Note.

The submission of the 2027 State Budget Bill along with the Financial Statement and supporting documents was delivered by Prabowo to Puan as the Speaker of the DPR in the Plenary Meeting of the Opening of the 2026-2027 Session I in the Nusantara building, the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, August 14 afternoon. This plenary session was held after the 2026 MPR Annual Session and the 2026 DPR-DPD Joint Session.

Regarding the issuance of the Financial Statement by the Government, Puan said that the success of the State Budget performance was measured by how much it fulfilled the people's expectations and how many people's lives could be changed for the better.

"The state budget is a political choice, about where the state's resources are directed, who is prioritized, and what benefits the people should feel," said Puan in his opening speech at the DPR session.

Puan said, in 2000 the state budget was at the amount of Rp. 197 trillion. Meanwhile, in 2010, the state budget reached an amount of Rp. 1,126 trillion.

"In 10 years, State Expenditure has increased almost sixfold," he continued.

Meanwhile, in 2026, the state budget will be in the range of Rp. 3,842 trillion. This figure is almost 20 times higher than in 2000.

"The 2027 State Budget, which will soon be delivered by the President, could be that our State Budget is close to Rp. 4,000 trillion in spending," said Puan.

Puan then touched on the use of the State Budget for the welfare of the people, as well as fulfilling the hope to live better.

"Maybe none of us have ever seen as much money as almost Rp. 4,000 trillion. The figure is so big, even very big," said the first woman to serve as Speaker of the DPR.

"But for a farmer who is waiting for his harvest to produce, a child who wants to go to school as high as possible, the poor who need health services, a job seeker to support his family, or other people's affairs, any number feels meaningless if it cannot answer the people's expectations and affairs," added Puan.

Therefore, Puan emphasized that the state budget is not only measured by the size of the budget that can be spent.

"The state budget must be assessed from its performance in meeting the people's expectations and the number of people's lives that can be changed for the better," he said.

The fiscal policy theme for 2027 is 'Growing Higher, Prosperous Faster'. According to Puan, this theme must be interpreted as a commitment to bring together growth with equity, and economic progress with social justice.

Puan reminded that the National Priority Work Program for 2027, ranging from food sovereignty, energy and water independence, education, health, industrialization, infrastructure and housing, people's economy and villages, to poverty reduction, must be implemented as a political unity of national development.

"National development is a way for the state to maintain unity by ensuring that every citizen, wherever they are, has the same rights to public services, economic opportunities, and progress," said Puan.

"No people should feel far from the country, because they live on small islands, underdeveloped areas, border areas, mountains, and remote areas," continued the grandson of Bung Karno.

Puan also reminded that the discussion and preparation of the 2027 Fiscal Year State Budget must pay attention to several things. First, state revenues must be collected fairly, without weakening people's purchasing power and the sustainability of the business world.

"The state must collect state revenues optimally, but must also be fair in sharing the burden," said Puan.

Second, said Puan, state spending must be increasingly qualified, targeted, and results-oriented. Then the third is to manage the deficit and debt carefully, measured, and responsible.

"Every financing must be seen from the benefits, risks, and burdens for future generations. "Today's policies must not leave an unfair burden on future generations," he said.

Puan's fourth message is that transfers to the regions must really strengthen public services, the local economy, and the equalization of development.

"The state budget is not just numbers and programs. For the people, what is remembered is not the size of the numbers in the state budget, but how much the state budget is able to change the lives of the people for the better," said Puan.

Puan also said that the size of the Government's and DPR's success in drafting the State Budget was the extent to which policies, programs and budgets were able to pave the way for the people to live better.

"So let's realize the 2027 Budget APBN as a political instrument of development that presents the state in the lives of the people, strengthens the state's commitment to the people, and increases the benefits of development for all," he said.

"Don't let the people wait. We, the DPR RI, the Government, State institutions, the TNI, the Police, who have been assigned by the people must work together, work quickly, accurately and efficiently for the people," added Puan.

After the Plenary Meeting of the First Session of the 2026-2027 DPR RI Session, the DPR will officially resume its session.