Power and Opposition Under Prabowo’s Political Cartel

By Max Lane for the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, May 26, 2025

Executive Summary

After months of speculation about what a Prabowo government would be like following the ten years of the Widodo presidency, speculation is starting to subside, and policies are becoming clearer.

A large parliamentary coalition supports President Prabowo’s government, which he has called a permanent coalition and which has also been described as a ‘political cartel’, in which Prabowo is the central figure. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) is neither a part nor a supporter of this coalition.

President Prabowo has announced very ambitious goals, such as an 8% economic growth rate. A major initiative has been to establish the Danantara sovereign wealth fund, under Presidential control and with weakened audit provisions.

There is ongoing speculation as to how oppositional the PDIP will be in relation to the Prabowo government, and whether it will end up supporting the government.

A string of corruption cases and a new law expanding the role of the Armed Forces have provoked waves of protest. Will this discontent develop and give birth to organisations representing a political opposition?

Read the full article at https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2025-38-power-and-opposition-under-prabowos-political-cartel-by-max-lane/. Featured image credit Tempo English.