Midnight Meeting, Prabowo Arranges The 2026 State Budget Strategy With Sri Mulyani

President Prabowo Subianto (center) chaired a limited meeting to discuss the State Budget at the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/7/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto gave directions to ministers, including the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani Indrawati, regarding fiscal reform, as well as reminding ministers to maintain the APBN deficit, during a limited meeting in Jakarta, Tuesday, 22 nights.

"At the intensive meeting, the Head of State received a report on the development of the discussion on the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) which is currently taking place at the House of Representatives (DPR)," said Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 23.

The limited meeting regarding the APBN was held on Tuesday night after a meeting related to optimizing the special economic zone (KEK) at the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Jakarta.

Teddy explained that President Prabowo gave complete and strategic directions, especially regarding fiscal reform measures, focusing on state spending, and controlling the deficit that was maintained.

Presiden Prabowo, kata Teddy, juga mengingatkan jajaran menterinya bahwa APBN harus menjadi instrumen untuk mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional.

Not only discussing fiscal issues, President Prabowo also emphasized the importance of implementing deregulation measures to create a conducive business climate and encourage sustainable economic growth.

"In the meeting, preparations were also discussed for the preparation of the 2026 financial notes and RAPBN which were planned to be submitted directly by the President to the DPR in August," he said.

Separately, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said President Prabowo gave a number of directions, one of which was for the APBN to be used to finance important programs, including government priority programs.

"The direction of the President is very complete. Reforms in terms of state revenues are still being carried out so that we can get adequate state revenues. Shopping is focused on important programs," Sri said during a press conference after the meeting.

Then regarding the deregulation, Sri Mulyani said that President Prabowo wanted a deregulation so that the economy would not always depend on the state budget.

"Mr. President emphasized that various measures are regulated so that the economy can grow, not always depending on the state budget. So, in this case, various improvements from regulations to make it easier for the business world, investment, trade and especially encourage a lot of Danantara and good governance," said Sri.

Finally, regarding the preparation of the 2026 RAPBN, Sri explained that the budget prepared accommodates presidential priority programs, including free nutritious food (MBG), people's schools (SR), Village Cooperatives / Cooperatives of the Red and White Villages and various programs that support food security.

"And also other very important government programs such as education, especially (worked by) the Dikdasmen (Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education), improvement of madrasas schools, then improvement from the digital school side as well as from the Ministry of Education and Technology (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology)," said Sri.

At the meeting, apart from Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and her two representatives, Suahasil and Thomas, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi was also present.