Indef: President Prabowo's Attendance at the DPR Plenary Session Demonstrates Commitment to Safeguard APBN Credibility

President Prabowo Subianto’s direct attendance at the DPR RI plenary session tomorrow is seen as a significant political and economic signal amid current economic pressures. Rizal Taufikurahman, head of the Macro Economics and Finance Centre at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), said markets would read this as the government’s effort to maintain confidence in the direction of fiscal policy. ‘On the positive side, the President can demonstrate direct commitment to preserving the credibility of the APBN and strengthen fiscal‑monetary coordination. This is important because fiscal space is tightening due to potential increases in energy subsidies, rising debt service costs, and the large financing needs of priority programmes,’ he told Media Indonesia on Tuesday (19 May).

In addition, Rizal noted the President’s attendance could provide certainty to investors regarding the stabilisation strategy and structural reforms. As reported, President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend the 19th Plenary Session of the DPR RI for the 2025-2026 Session Year at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20 May). The President’s attendance marks a historic moment in the national legislative tradition.

Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Saan Mustopa, confirmed that the main agenda of the meeting is the delivery of the Macro Economic Framework and the Kerangka Pokok Kebijakan Fiskal (KEM-PPKF) as the basis for the Rancangan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara (RAPBN) for the 2027 fiscal year. ‘The plan is for the macroeconomic framework, as well as the key fiscal policy principles, to be presented directly by the President,’ Saan said at the Parliament Complex on Tuesday (19 May).

The President’s move to present the KEM-PPKF directly to the lawmakers is unusual. Saan noted that it is the first time a President has assumed this role in person. In previous administrations, strategic documents on the direction of the country’s economy and fiscal policy were usually delivered by government ministers, such as the Finance Minister or the Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

Markets will be watching how strongly the government can instil confidence in fiscal stability and debt management. The Istana explained that the decision for the President to deliver the KEM-PPKF RAPBN 2027 in the DPR is intended to unite the nation’s efforts.

Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend the DPR plenary on Wednesday (20 May) to deliver the KEM-PPKF and RAPBN for the 2027 fiscal year. DPR Speaker Puan Maharani outlined the DPR’s strategic focus on oversight, including security of the TNI, energy issues, and protection of victims of sexual violence.

The speaker added that markets will be attentive to how robust the government’s assurances on fiscal stability and debt management prove to be. The Istana reiterated the rationale for the President’s direct presentation of the KEM-PPKF RAPBN 2027 in the DPR to rally national resolve. A DPR Deputy Chairman, Dave Laksono, urged a comprehensive review of Indonesia’s WNI protection framework in light of incidents in Malaysia and Somalia, as well as the Global Sumud issue.