The Ministry's IDR 50 Trillion Budget Is Blocked For Social Assistance, Ganjar: Our Poverty Increases?

Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo In Balikpapan/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

BALIKPAPAN - Presidential Candidate number three, Ganjar Pranowo questioned the latest poverty rate. Because, there is an impression that the government is focused on social assistance (bansos) ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

This was conveyed by Ganjar in response to a budget of IDR 50.14 trillion which was temporarily blocked by the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani to be used to increase the budget for social assistance (bansos) and fertilizer subsidies.

"I wonder if our poverty is indeed increasing, really, the social assistance is increasing," Ganjar told reporters in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Tuesday, February 6.

Ganjar assessed that the blocking of this budget was actually a legal thing to do because it meant that there were other, more urgent needs. Moreover, the same thing has been done because of the disaster.

"Yesterday there was a reason for this and so on. It's okay that we all know, we want to argue like anything, there is a feeling that can be conveyed by the public that this is something that is not natural, okay," he said.

"That's why if someone can brake, control it well. I really hope that the DPR RI, DPRD, will all be able to control it in the field so that it is right on target," continued the former Governor of Central Java.

Previously reported, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani temporarily blocked the budget of IDR 50.14 trillion. Later, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the addition of social assistance and subsidies would be carried out.

"Later, the technique will be fast. Mrs. Sri Mulyani will finish it. One of them is automatic adjustment," Airlangga told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, February 5.

This decision is contained in the Letter of the Minister of Finance Number S-182/MK.02/2023. The blocking is referred to as the government's strategy to deal with global economic uncertainty and geopolitical turmoil.