Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto swears in new cabinet

JAKARTA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) — Indonesia’s newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto on Monday swore in his new cabinet with over 100 members.
The “Red and White Cabinet” as it is officially called, referring to the colors of the Southeast Asian country’s national flag, includes new faces as well as members from the administration under Prabowo’s predecessor, Joko Widodo.
The new cabinet includes Sugiono as minister of foreign affairs, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as minister of defense, Budi Santoso as trade minister.
Former ministers from Widodo’s cabinet who now serve as coordinating ministers under Prabowo include Pratikno, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Zulkifli Hasan. Pratikno is appointed as coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs, Yudhoyono as coordinating minister for infrastructure and regional development, and Hasan as coordinating minister for food affairs.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia’s first woman finance minister, retains her post. Airlangga Hartarto will continue to serve as coordinating minister for economic affairs in the new cabinet, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, as industry minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, as energy and mineral resources minister, Erick Thohir, as state-owned enterprises minister.
Other key figures from Widodo’s cabinet who remain in their posts under Prabowo include Budi Gunadi Sadikin as health minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman as agriculture minister, and Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo as minister of youth and sports.
Budi Gunawan, who previously headed the State Intelligence Agency under Widodo, is appointed as coordinating minister for political and security affairs.
Prabowo was inaugurated as Indonesia’s 8th president on Sunday. ■