Minister Pigai Reminds Budi Arie About Accelerating Elections Before 2029

The statement on political acceleration before 2029 made by Projo Chairman Budi Arie Setiadi has drawn a serious response from within President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet. Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai reminded Budi Arie not to further isolate himself politically.

Pigai urged the leading figure of the political faction supporting former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) not to make reckless statements to the public. “Remember, Budi Arie. Remember me,” Pigai said, as quoted from his official X account in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/8/2026).

Pigai also uploaded a video showing Budi Arie sitting next to Jokowi while speaking about political acceleration before the 2029 election. According to him, the former communications and information minister should always remember an incident of sitting together at a wedding reception.

During that event, Pigai said, Budi Arie was isolated as other ministers in Prabowo’s cabinet kept their distance from him. “When we sat at the wedding of a minister’s child, all the ministers stayed away from you. I, Natalius, decided to sit beside you,” Pigai said.

Budi Arie and Pigai have both served as ministers in Prabowo’s cabinet since 2024. Budi Arie was appointed Minister of Cooperatives in October 2024, while Pigai served as Minister of Human Rights. However, in September 2025, Prabowo removed Budi Arie, whereas Pigai remains in his ministerial post to this day.

The former National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner revealed that the incident of ministers distancing themselves from Budi Arie made him feel sorry for his colleague. He did not, however, explain the context of the event. “I felt your sorrow,” Pigai said.

As a friend, Pigai prioritised humanitarian considerations over political sensitivities. “I am a defender of humanity. I dared to sit beside you,” Pigai said. He added that Budi Arie must remember the incident at the wedding of a minister’s child very well.