Finance Minister Suahasil Vows to Keep State Budget Healthy

Suahasil Nazara Takes Charge of Finance Ministry With Focus on Budget Stability

Tempatdonasi.com – Indonesia’s newly installed finance minister, Suahasil Nazara, has set out his central priority: protecting the health of state finances while ensuring the State Budget, or APBN, continues to underpin economic growth, stability, and public welfare.

Suahasil assumed leadership of the Finance Ministry on Monday afternoon, September 14, 2026, after President Prabowo Subianto appointed him at the State Palace in Jakarta earlier that day. He succeeds Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and becomes the third person to hold the finance minister’s portfolio during Prabowo’s administration.

His appointment was confirmed through Presidential Decree No. 97P/2026, which governs the dismissal and appointment of the finance minister for the rest of the 2024-2029 term. The decree was issued by President Prabowo on September 14.

Maintaining a Budget That Supports the Economy

At his first press conference as minister at the Finance Ministry office in Jakarta, Suahasil said he had been instructed to continue managing national finances through the remaining years of the current administration.

“My task is to safeguard state finances and ensure that our state finances continue to support a State Budget that promotes growth, stabilizes the economy, and provides maximum benefits to Indonesian society as a whole,” Suahasil said.

The statement places the APBN at the center of the government’s economic agenda. Indonesia’s annual budget does more than set spending limits for ministries and public programs. It affects daily economic conditions through government expenditure, household consumption, investment activity, and exports.

For households, budget policy can influence the availability and direction of public services and government support. For businesses, it can shape the broader investment environment through public spending and economic confidence. Government outlays also have a direct role in supporting activity across sectors, while fiscal management can affect the country’s ability to respond to changing domestic and global conditions.

Suahasil emphasized that disciplined management of public finances is needed so that the government can obtain the greatest possible value from the budget for the population, while still sustaining economic momentum.

Continuity at the Finance Ministry

The new minister also urged Finance Ministry personnel to remain focused on their responsibilities and to protect the institution’s standing. His message highlighted continuity in the ministry’s work at a time of another leadership transition.

“Let us continue our respective work and build a Finance Ministry that is credible, trusted, and a source of pride for the Indonesian people,” he said.

Credibility is especially important for a ministry responsible for revenue collection, state expenditure, debt management, fiscal planning, and the preparation of the APBN. Public confidence in those functions supports the government’s ability to carry out programs while maintaining a stable fiscal position.

Suahasil’s long experience inside the ministry may offer institutional continuity as he moves into the top role. Before becoming finance minister, he had served as deputy finance minister since October 25, 2019. He was initially appointed during President Joko Widodo’s administration and retained the deputy minister position after Prabowo took office in October 2024.

Third Finance Minister Under Prabowo

Suahasil follows Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as finance minister under President Prabowo. Purbaya took office on September 8, 2025, replacing Sri Mulyani.

The transition brings Suahasil from the deputy minister’s office into direct responsibility for the country’s fiscal administration. His stated commitment suggests that the ministry will continue to place emphasis on a budget that balances development goals with economic stability.

For the public, the significance of that commitment lies in how effectively the APBN translates into tangible results. A sound budget framework is expected to help finance government priorities, sustain essential public functions, and support the wider economy without weakening the country’s financial resilience.

As Suahasil begins his tenure, his immediate challenge will be to maintain that balance: ensuring state resources are used productively, preserving trust in the Finance Ministry, and keeping fiscal policy aligned with Indonesia’s broader economic needs through the remainder of the 2024-2029 administration.