Finance Minister Purbaya Reveals Fuel Prices Won't Rise for the People's Sake

The government has not raised fuel prices despite increasing budgetary pressures. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the decision takes into account its impact on society. According to him, a fuel price increase would directly add to the cost of living, particularly for lower-income groups. “When fuel prices rise, the burden on the people increases, especially for the small ones,” he said at the Ministry of Finance Canteen in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4/2026). Yudhi explained that there are deeper economic considerations. If fuel prices are raised, he continued, the government’s fiscal space would indeed increase, but society’s purchasing power would diminish. “If I raise the fuel prices, the space becomes mine. But the people have to pay more, the economy slows down,” he said. Purbaya also touched on spending efficiency. He assessed that in many cases, society is more efficient in spending money than the government. “Almost certainly not, because people spend according to their needs,” he stated. On the other hand, he continued, regarding the rupiah exchange rate, the government is leaving it entirely to the monetary authority. “For the rupiah, we leave it to the central bank, to the experts. I believe they can fix it,” said Purbaya. The government, he added, will continue to monitor global conditions and prepare various scenarios. However, policies will remain directed to avoid pressuring society’s purchasing power.