Just Two Months In, 2026 Budget Deficit Reaches IDR 135.7 Trillion; Purbaya Explains

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has revealed the primary reason for the substantial state budget deficit under his leadership from the outset of the year. Indeed, in the first two months of 2026, January-February, the state budget already recorded a deficit of IDR 135.7 trillion, rising 342.4% compared to the same period last year at IDR 30.7 trillion.

“Some say last year was a surplus, why is this year a deficit? Well, our budget is designed to be in deficit,” said Purbaya during a budget press conference at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

Purbaya explained that this substantial deficit is caused by government spending moving swiftly at the beginning of the year, reaching IDR 493.8 trillion, whilst state revenue matches at the level of IDR 358 trillion.

He stated that the government is deliberately implementing a new pattern of government spending by distributing expenditure more evenly each month, no longer concentrated solely at the end of the year as was the case in budget management under the previous finance minister.

“Now we deliberately ensure that spending is more evenly distributed throughout the year so that the impact of government spending and other factors on the economy is more felt,” he said.