Politics

Jakarta's Power Shuffle: Prabowo Makes a String of Key Appointments

October 19, 2026

President Prabowo Subianto has made a wave of appointments across state energy, disaster management, policing, finance, and diplomacy. Here is a rundown of the main moves.

New Chief at PLN

Suroso Isnandar has been named president director of PLN, Indonesia's state electricity company, replacing Darmawan Prasodjo. He will also keep his previous role overseeing project management and renewable energy development.

Disaster Agency Leadership Expected to Change

Army Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi is widely expected to succeed Lt. Gen. Suharyanto as head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Soeharto Family Member Joins HUMI Leadership

Shareholders of PT Humpuss Maritim Internasional (HUMI) have approved a full overhaul of the company's boards of commissioners and directors. As part of the changes, Darma Mangkuluhur Hutomo, the son of Tommy Soeharto, has been named president commissioner.

New Coordinating Ministry for Energy

Prabowo has created a new coordinating ministry to drive downstreaming and the energy transition, and Bahlil Lahadalia will lead it. The ministry is meant to bring investment and energy policy under one roof, at a time of global geopolitical uncertainty and growing pressure to speed up the shift to cleaner energy.

Nominee for National Police Chief

Prabowo has proposed Suyudi Ario Seto as the sole candidate to lead the National Police, succeeding Listyo Sigit. Listyo Sigit, in turn, has been appointed head of the Presidential Staff Office.

Parliament Reviews Ambassador Nominees

Commission I of the House of Representatives is assessing 25 candidates for diplomatic posts. The postings cover major partners in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as ASEAN and other international organizations.

Democrat Party Brings In New Faces

The Democratic Party, which has moved from opposition into the governing coalition, has introduced a group of young figures ahead of its 25th anniversary. They include actor Aldi Taher and stock investor Andry Hakim.

Nominee to Lead Mineral and Commodity Exchange

Prabowo has proposed capital market veteran M. Sardjito to lead the Mineral and Commodity Exchange. The House of Representatives will review his nomination as Indonesia prepares to launch its own mineral and strategic commodity exchange in 2027.

Sri Mulyani Returns to Lead IDA22 Fundraising

The World Bank has tapped Sri Mulyani, a former World Bank chief operating officer, to co-chair fundraising for IDA22. The program is the institution's largest concessional financing scheme for low-income countries.

Intelligence Agency Names New Jakarta Chief

Tjahjono Prasetyanto, a veteran intelligence officer with decades of experience in counterintelligence and strategic operations, has been appointed head of the agency's Jakarta office.

How Raffi Ahmad's Network Reached Strategic Industries

Celebrity Raffi Ahmad's expanding network has reached into several of Indonesia's strategic industries. The appointment of a presidential envoy's longtime aide as a commissioner has renewed questions about the country's political-business connections.

Customs Reform Deadline

The finance minister said President Prabowo has approved a plan to dissolve the Customs agency, but the agency will first be given time to improve. If the overhaul stalls, a Swiss inspection firm could be brought in to take over its role.

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