Before Being Dismissed by Prabowo, Purbaya Was Already Considering Leaving the Finance Minister's Post
Former Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has stated that there was no clash of interests in the process of replacing the nation’s treasurer.
“There was no friction. What is clear is that replacing a minister is the president’s prerogative,” Purbaya told reporters after the handover ceremony for the Finance Minister of the Republic of Indonesia at the Finance Ministry office in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/9).
Purbaya admitted he had opened up the possibility of resigning as Finance Minister before President Prabowo Subianto announced the reshuffle of the fiscal leadership post.
“I didn’t have any particular feeling, but I did have my own calculation; there was something with perhaps a 50:50 chance. But after that, it was the president’s prerogative,” he added.
A day after the change, Purbaya said he was not interested in returning to a government post and preferred to live his personal life. “No (I won’t be an official). I want to go fishing behind my house,” he joked.
Also present at the same occasion, Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budi Utama denied there was any internal conflict within the Finance Ministry. “Says who? That’s not true,” Djaka said when asked.
Separately from that issue, Djaka expressed hope that the change of Finance Minister would enable the ministry to further strengthen its role in managing the State Budget (APBN). “Going forward, the hope is that the Finance Ministry can always manage the APBN well,” Djaka said.
The handover of the Finance Minister post from Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to Suahasil Nazara was officially conducted at the Finance Ministry office on Tuesday, one day after the inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (14/9).
Suahasil was inaugurated as the new Finance Minister pursuant to Presidential Decree Number 97P of 2026 on the Dismissal and Appointment of the Finance Minister of the Red and White Cabinet for the Remaining Term of 2024-2029, issued on 14 September 2026 by President Prabowo Subianto.
Suahasil is the third Finance Minister under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. The previous minister, Purbaya, was inaugurated on 8 September 2025 to replace Sri Mulyani. Suahasil previously served as Deputy Finance Minister since the Indonesia Onward Cabinet under President Joko Widodo, and continued into the Red and White Cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto.