Puan reminds the 2027 State Budget not to be just big, it must be felt by the people

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani (ANTARA/HO-DPR)

JAKARTA - The Chair of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, reminded that the size of the State Budget does not automatically mean success. The size, he said, is how far the budget is able to answer the needs of the people and improve their lives.

Puan conveyed this at the Plenary Meeting of the Opening of the First Session of the 2026-2027 Session in the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, August 14.

The meeting was attended by President Prabowo Subianto who delivered an introduction to the 2027 APBN bill along with a financial note and supporting documents to the DPR.

"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.

He compared the size of the state budget in the last two decades. In 2000, the state budget was Rp. 197 trillion. The figure rose to Rp. 1,126 trillion in 2010 and around Rp. 3,842 trillion in 2026.

Puan estimates that the 2027 State Budget could approach Rp4,000 trillion.

However, according to Puan, such a large number does not mean much if it does not answer the needs of farmers, children who want to continue their education, people who need health services, to job seekers.

"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.

Puan said the discussion of the 2027 State Budget must pay attention to four things.

First, state revenues must be collected optimally and fairly without weakening the purchasing power of the community or the sustainability of the business world.

Second, state spending must be more qualified, targeted, and results-oriented.

Third, the deficit and debt must be managed carefully, measured, and responsibly.

"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," said Puan.

Fourth, transfers to the regions must really strengthen public services, the local economy, and the equalization of development.

Puan also asked that the 2027 national priority programs, ranging from food, energy, water, education, health, industrialization, infrastructure, housing, rural economy to poverty reduction, be run as a single policy of development.

"No citizen should feel far from the country because they live on a small island, a lagging area, a border area, a mountain, or a remote area," he said.

According to Puan, the measure of the success of the DPR and the government in drafting the 2027 State Budget is not only the size of the budget, but how far the policies and programs financed are able to make people's lives better.