Chatib Basri and Budi Gunadi Meet Prabowo Amid Finance Minister Speculation
Former Finance Minister Chatib Basri and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin suddenly met with President Prabowo Subianto amid rumours of an offer for the finance minister position to replace Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. Chatib and Budi were united in dismissing the issue. The pair arrived at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6/2026). Chatib Basri was first spotted near a pillar entrance of the Palace at 15:35 WIB. Chatib arrived alongside the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Chatib confirmed he would meet Prabowo. Shortly after, Budi Gunadi was also seen at the pillar entrance and immediately entered the Palace.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad responded to the meeting. Dasco said he had sought confirmation from the Palace regarding the gathering and stated the meeting was specifically to provide input on current economic developments. He said Chatib Basri attended in his capacity as a member of the National Economic Council, while Luhut attended as the council’s chairman. The National Economic Council provided several recommendations to Prabowo, particularly regarding steps to boost national economic growth.
Luhut, along with DEN members Chatib Basri, Septian Hario Seto, and Firman Hidayat, detailed the meeting’s contents. Luhut said the discussion covered several economic issues, including improving the governance of the free nutritious meal (MBG) programme and optimising the government’s digital public services, known as government technology (govtech). He reported the results of a professional survey on the MBG programme’s implementation at 800 locations and outlined progress on AI-based govtech, noting that data from eight ministries and agencies had been integrated as of 1 June. He emphasised that this integrated, AI-based data system would be a crucial part of President Prabowo’s administration.
Chatib subsequently addressed the circulating issue that he was offered the finance minister post in the Red and White Cabinet. He firmly denied the existence of such an offer, explaining the meeting was about economic matters, including the deteriorating macroeconomic situation. He noted that the weakening rupiah was affecting ordinary citizens and stressed the need for budget efficiency measures, including within the MBG programme, to restore confidence and trust in the government.
Budi Gunadi revealed that Prabowo requested updates on three quick win programmes: the Free Health Screening (CKG), tuberculosis management, and the acceleration of 66 hospitals in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. Budi noted that 20 hospitals had been completed and 12 were already operational, prompting Prabowo to express a desire to visit the facilities. When asked about rumours he would become finance minister, Budi laughed and dismissed the speculation, stating he is still serving as health minister.