Revolving Doors in Indonesia’s Presidential Cabinet, President Prabowo’s 7th Reshuffling

There is no visible pattern among officials moved around the cabinet, while some pleased the public, others were rather disappointing. Speculation remains high and answer still unclear.

Editor – Southeast Asia Analyst

A total of 15 government officials were summoned to Indonesia’s presidential palace on 1st October 2026 to be inaugurated, stepped down and reshuffled within President Prabowo’s cabinet. The ranks ranged from agency chiefs to ministerial level within government bodies. The notable personnel reshuffled among the officials were foreign minister Sugiono who was pulled out from his post to hold a new position as coordinating minister for human capital and cultural affairs. Arrmanatah Nasir, one of Sugiono’s vice, took up the empty spot. Energy and natural resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia will now hold his current position along with a new post as minister of coordinating ministry for downstreaming and energy transition. And finally national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo leaving his post to become presidential chief of staff.

The new arrangements drew various reactions from the public. “I don’t think we will ever get solar panels on our roofs now that Bahlil’s minister for energy” said Ms. T, an office employee based in Jakarta expressing doubt towards Bahlil’s appointment. Bahlil remains one of the most unpopular ministers especially following his doctorate scandal and policy that limited cooking gas container sales to licensed sellers that resulted in product scarcity and even death of one buyer who passed away while waiting in line to buy the gas tank.

Indonesia’s foreign policy observers were in celebratory mood at the news of Sugiono being replaced by his vice. Insider sources told Southeast Asia Analyst before Sugiono was officially replaced, the foreign ministry had an internal reshuffling itself.

Arrmanatah Nasir is a career diplomat with decades in the foreign service, a stark difference from Sugiono, a politician who joined Prabowo’s party and became his “ideological son” before serving as a member of parliament from 2019 to 2024 and a brief stint as foreign minister. At the start of Prabowo’s administration, observers argued that he intentionally appointed loyalists instead of a technocrat to have full control over foreign policy. “Finally replaced by an actual diplomat” read a comment on instagram.

Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s termination as police chief and promotion to presidential chief of staff was the first to be made public among the reshuffles. Reactions were mixed but with the public relations crisis that law enforcement suffered in Indonesia, majority of comments online expressed relief that the person seemingly responsible for the long series of police brutality was removed as top cop. The Solo gang member’s appointment as chief of staff however might only translate to administrative duties given Prabowo’s decision making pattern that heavily relies on his own inner circle.

There is no visible pattern among officials moved around the cabinet, while some pleased the public, others were rather disappointing. Speculation remains high and answer still unclear. “This (reshuffling) is done to cater to the recent challenges products of the latest law” said Prabowo’s party spokesperson.

The decision should not come as a surprise considering this marks the seventh reshuffle with nearly two years in office. Only last month, Prabowo terminated the widely popular finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa after insistence from his advisors. Although the motivation behind such a large reshuffle involving seemingly heavily influential positions is still unclear, the implication of this is obvious, it signals instability to observers domestic and abroad alike.

Jasmine Pingol is an Archipelagic Southeast Asia columnist for Southeast Asia Analyst, based in Manila.