Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed five ministers in a surprise cabinet reshuffle, following weeks of unrest and growing public anger over economic hardship and political privilege.
The shake-up, announced Monday, comes after mass demonstrations erupted in late August when it was revealed that all 580 members of parliament were receiving a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) per month—nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage.
The protests, some of which turned violent, left at least seven people dead, according to police.
The National Commission on Human Rights put the toll at 10, accusing security forces of excessive force.
Among those removed was Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a respected technocrat who previously held senior positions at the IMF and World Bank.
She was replaced by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation and a veteran economic adviser.
At his first news conference, Sadewa, 61, pledged to accelerate growth and ensure more efficient state spending without overhauling fiscal systems.
Other ministers dismissed include those responsible for politics and security, cooperatives, youth and sports, and migrant worker protection.
The protests intensified after the death of 21-year-old motorcycle courier Affan Kurniawan, who was struck and killed by an armored police vehicle while delivering food amid demonstrations.
His death galvanized young workers, many of whom face high unemployment and rely on low-paying gig jobs.
Security forces responded with riot gear, water cannons, and tear gas, even storming university campuses. President Prabowo urged police to act firmly against protests he claimed showed signs of “treason and terrorism.” Activists, however, pressed on, targeting government offices and even the home of the ousted finance minister.
Calm has returned in recent days after Prabowo revoked lawmakers’ housing perks and suspended most overseas trips.
But the unrest has raised deeper concerns over the expanding influence of the military under Prabowo, a former special forces commander once barred from entering the United States.
