Responding To Prabowo's 'fat Cabinet', Airlangga: We Call Him A Focused Cabinet

President Prabowo held a meeting and lunch with a number of ministers at the Jakarta Palace, Monday 17 February 2025. (ANTARA-HO-Biro Press Setpres)

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto responded to comments about criticism of the 'fat cabinet' which is often addressed to the Red and White Cabinet of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka government.

Airlangga straightened out the cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto's administration as a focused cabinet.

"We call it a focused cabinet. So it is more narrow-width, so we hope that these flagship programs with seven coordinations can be more focused," said Airlangga at The Economic Insights 2025 event, in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 19, which was confiscated by Antara.

He added that what should be remembered about Indonesia is that this country consists of 17 thousand islands. The government projects that the size of Indonesia is the same as the European Union which has 27 countries.

"In Europe there are 27 finance ministers, 27 foreign ministers, 27 economic ministers, 27 trade take care of, and others. So, in Indonesia one each, it is good and extraordinary," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo, who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, chose not to care about the term "fat cabinet" which was aimed at the Red and White Cabinet he formed.

In his remarks at the 17th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party in Sentul, West Java, Saturday, February 15, Prabowo said that Timor Leste, which has a population of only 2 million people, even has a cabinet of 28 people.

In addition, Prabowo also mentioned that Indonesia has an area almost equivalent to Europe which consists of 27 countries.

"The cabinet is fat, it doesn't matter what I'm called, the important thing is the result!", said Prabowo.

After being inaugurated as the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo appointed 108 people who were his assistants in the government.

The 108 people consisted of seven coordinating ministers, 41 ministers, 55 deputy ministers, and five ministerial-level officials, including the attorney general and cabinet secretary.