Jakarta – Indonesia's next presidential election is not due until 2029, but it seems the fight may have started early in 2026.

President Prabowo Subianto is facing sustained scrutiny over the economy, state spending, the cost of living and declining foreign investor confidence – a moment some rivals appear eager to seize.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Speculation over a possible broader cabinet reshuffle has resurfaced as President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to swear in new appointees to his government on Monday following corruption-related dismissals and amid growing concerns over the economy.

Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesia's financial markets are facing a deeper challenge than a conventional market correction, according to political economy analyst Kusfiardi, who warned that investors are increasingly reassessing the country's overall risk profile as stocks and the currency remain under pressure.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto urged students at Indonesia's People's Schools not to be discouraged when facing mockery or bullying from others, saying even a president is not spared from criticism.

He shared the message during a visit to SRMP 17 Tabanan, a junior high school under the People's School program, in Bali on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the Indonesian government's plan to involve the military in tackling street crime, including violent robberies known locally as begal, arguing that law enforcement in civilian settings should remain the responsibility of the police.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has defended President Prabowo Subianto's frequent overseas trips, arguing that the visits have helped attract trillions of rupiah in investment to Indonesia.

However, a review of official investment data shows that the figure cited by Teddy includes both foreign and domestic investment.

Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program has come under renewed public scrutiny after anti-corruption activists called for an audit of 41 nutrition service facilities operated by a foundation linked to the daughter of a regional legislator, following reports surrounding a corruption investigation involving former National Nutrition Agency head Dadan Hindayana.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto shared a personal story about what he considers his two lucky numbers during a visit to SRMP 17 Tabanan, one of the government's People's Schools, in Bali on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa inspected 3,100 containers that were piling up at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Saturday, June 6, 2026. He discovered several reasons why the imported goods were detained at Tanjung Priok.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has rejected the growing "sell Indonesia" narrative circulating among some global investors, arguing that the country's economic fundamentals remain solid despite recent market turbulence.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Finance has announced optimistic dynamic macroeconomic assumptions. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa predicts that Indonesia's economy will grow by 5.4 percent in 2026.

As of the first quarter of 2026, economic growth was recorded at 5.61 percent, higher than last year's growth of 5.11 percent year-on-year.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The President of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), also the Labour Party President, Said Iqbal, responded to the news of his potential appointment to President Prabowo Subianto's administration. This news was previously discussed by the State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg), Prasetyo Hadi.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – A total of 301 senior professors at the University of Indonesia (UI) are submitting an amicus curiae, or friend of the court brief, to the Supreme Court regarding a pending cassation case. This submission contests the judicial cancellation of ethical sanctions against the dissertation mentors of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

Dylan Duan, Gayatri Suroyo and Melanie Burton, Shanghai, China/Jakarta/Melbourne, Australia – Chinese companies that helped build Indonesia's nickel industry into the world's dominant producer are looking as far afield as Africa for longer-term alternatives as rising policy pressure tests the investment model that reshaped global supply.

Freddie Daley and Charlie Lawrie (The Conversation) – In December 2025, Indonesia quietly abandoned plans to close the Cirebon-1 coal power plant.

This was no ordinary power plant. Cirebon-1 was supposed to be the centerpiece of a US$21.4 billion international deal backed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union to help Indonesia end coal use.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim a suspect in an alleged extortion case relating to foreigner stay permits, marking the second arrest of a top government official for corruption this week.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The rupiah slid to a new record low of Rp 18,000 per United States dollar on Thursday, extending its losses this year to more than 7 percent and making it Asia's worst-performing currency as rising oil prices and deteriorating trade dynamics rattled investors.

Antara, Jakarta – Reforming Indonesia's energy subsidies would strengthen fiscal credibility, ease pressure on the state budget, and support President Prabowo Subianto's energy transition agenda, according to policy experts.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Economists have warned that Indonesia's surplus can shrink further – even to the point of being in the red – as the world faces its worst oil supply shocks.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah has weakened past the psychological level of Rp18,000 per US dollar, prompting calls for broader policy coordination beyond monetary tightening. On Friday morning, June 5, 2026, the rupiah traded at Rp18,031 per US dollar.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Survey agency Poltracking Indonesia has released its latest public opinion poll, featuring data on public satisfaction regarding the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG).

Nadira Rahmadini – United Nations human rights experts have criticized Indonesia's decision to prosecute four military personnel accused in the acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus through a military court, warning that the process risks undermining accountability and transparency.

Sontry Napitupulu – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has officially launched an internal consolidation effort, with a primary focus on maximizing budget efficiency for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's weakening rupiah is changing travel patterns on both sides of its borders. Foreign tourists are taking advantage of favorable exchange rates, while Indonesians are opting to stay closer to home as overseas vacations become more expensive.

Jauhari Mahardhika, Jakarta – The "sell Indonesia" trade gathers pace on Friday as foreign investors dump another Rp 3.7 trillion ($204 million) worth of Indonesian equities, extending a retreat from the country's financial markets that leaves its stocks and currency among Asia's worst performers this year.

Antara, Jakarta – Sovereign wealth fund Danantara has denied reports that rich Indonesians with savings of over Rp 3 billion ($166,242) are required to purchase Patriot Bonds and Merah Putih Bonds.

"That's not true. There is no such plan," Danantara chief operating officer Dony Oskaria was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax collections reach Rp 834.4 trillion ($46.3 billion) as of the end of May, rising 22.1% from a year earlier, the Finance Ministry says.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the performance marked a significant turnaround from 2025, when tax revenue growth remained in negative territory.

Eka Permadhi, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition that is part of MBG Watch has called the corruption case involving the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) an urgent warning for the government to immediately halt and completely overhaul the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Victims of a sexual violence case involving students at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Law (FH UI) have expressed disappointment after the university imposed suspensions on the perpetrators instead of expelling them.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – A coalition of Indonesian civil society organizations has urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately revise the country's Military Judiciary Law, arguing that the current system has failed to deliver justice and continues to foster impunity for members of the armed forces.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – UN experts have expressed dismay over the use of military court proceedings in the acid attack case targeting Indonesian human rights defender Andrie Yunus, calling instead for a public trial under the civilian justice system.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday expanding the central bank's role to include responsibility for economic growth and allowing lawmakers to evaluate its performance.

As the rupiah plummeted to a historic low against the dollar, the House gave the green light for a legislative amendment that has raised alarm bells over central bank independence.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) continued its sharp correction on Thursday, falling more than 4 percent. This morning, the JCI fell 246.14 points, or 4.14 percent, to 5,694.91.

Capital market observer and Founder of Republik Investor, Hendra Wardana, believes the JCI's sharp correction indicates the market is facing a serious crisis of confidence.

Marta Serafinko, Gdansk, Poland – For the past century, the Blue-fronted Lorikeet was one of Indonesia's most elusive birds, known only from a 2014 photographic record and a handful of museum specimens, with a lingering hope that it had not vanished.

Dayat, Jakarta – Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday sentenced former Deputy Manpower Minister Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan to four years and six months in prison for his role in a corruption scheme involving the issuance of occupational safety and health certificates.

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities should immediately rescind new policies to counter street crime that would result in the unlawful use of force by security personnel, Human Rights Watch said today.

Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim, a spokesman said on Thursday, making him the second high-profile government official in two days to face corruption charges.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Dadan Hindayana, former head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) that oversees the free nutritious meal rollout, as a suspect in an alleged corruption case just one day after his dismissal from the agency.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia has injected Rp 8 trillion ($443 million) into the bond market to help stabilize the rupiah as the currency weakened beyond Rp 18,000 per US dollar, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Thursday.

Emanuel Kure, Jakarta – Indonesia's data center industry is attracting fresh capital as global operators race to expand infrastructure to meet rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads.

Ardan Pratama, Jakarta – International attention has been directed at Indonesia after United Nations (UN) experts said they believe that the "personal vendetta" narrative in the acid attack on human rights activist Andrie Yunus has the potential to obscure the search for the mastermind behind the attack, which they described as a premeditated act.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Poltracking survey agency has released the latest results of the Indonesian government survey conducted in May 2026. One of the topics included the public trust level towards President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has instructed central kitchens operating the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to refrain from serving omelets. According to him, omelets risk falling short on nutritional value, as they are often padded out with more flour than actual eggs.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Prosecutors have named the former Chief of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, and his two deputies, retired Police Inspector General Sony Sonjaya and retired TNI Lieutenant General Lodewyk Pusung, as suspects in a corruption case involving the mismanagement of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program during the 2025-2026 period.

Prisma Ardianto, Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Rupiah sank to a fresh record low against the Singapore dollar on Wednesday, briefly breaching Rp 14,000 for the second time in less than a week and touching Rp 14,029 per SGD, its weakest level on record, as mounting global uncertainty and rising domestic demand for foreign currency weighed on the Indonesian currency.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – Low scores in elementary and junior high school exams have highlighted the need to improve Indonesia's education system, with observers calling for reforms focused on teachers and school governance.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto removed on Tuesday National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana, ending almost two years of struggles in running a nationwide free meal program that has been blighted by mass food poisonings and allegations of budget misuse.

The much-hyped billion-dollar scheme was the flagship policy of Prabowo's 2024 election campaign.

Yanuar Nugroho – On 5 May 2026, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that Indonesia's economy had grown 5.61 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter (Q1), the fastest pace since 2022. The government's response was celebratory. Prabowo's administration had its headline, but headlines are not governance and a number, however impressive, is not an economic diagnosis.

Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – Investigators from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) raided the headquarters of the country's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said, saying the building of the agency spearheading President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals program was under lockdown.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The US has slapped an additional 10% tariff on Indonesia for letting imported goods linked with forced labor enter the country.