From the Palace, Chatib Basri Confirms No Offer for Finance Minister Post

Economist and member of the National Economic Council (DEN) Chatib Basri has denied being offered the position of Finance Minister by the President during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon. Chatib met the President alongside DEN Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Following the meeting, Chatib explained that the discussion with the President concerned the condition and development of the economy. “There was no offer to become Finance Minister. We were discussing the economy,” Chatib stated when approached by the media.

Chatib also refuted claims that he was in the same forum as Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who also visited the Palace. The former Finance Minister under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono emphasised that he met the President in his capacity as a DEN member.

“The Health Minister? Oh, no. I was just with DEN,” he said in response to media questions speculating about a potential cabinet reshuffle. Chatib has been heavily rumoured online to be replacing Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as Finance Minister, speculation that emerged amid the weakening rupiah and the plunge in the Jakarta Composite Index. In addition to Chatib, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin was also rumoured to be moved to the finance post. However, Budi confirmed he remains the Health Minister, stating his visit to the Palace was because he was summoned by President Prabowo Subianto for a visit to Krui, West Lampung Regency.