Palace Clarifies Rumours Regarding Chatib Basri Replacing Purbaya as Finance Minister
The Palace, through the Indonesian State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, has clarified circulating rumours regarding a change in the Finance Minister. The name of senior economist Chatib Basri has been widely discussed as a potential successor to Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa in the Finance Ministry.
Prasetyo Hadi emphasised that there is currently no plan for a reshuffle or a change in the Finance Minister. He urged the public not to easily believe circulating rumours. “That is not true; there is no plan to change the Finance Minister. We have stated many times that there is no plan for a reshuffle, so please do not link this to circulating issues or the names of various figures,” Prasetyo Hadi told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, 8 June 2026.
The Gerindra Party politician stated that President Prabowo Subianto will provide an official statement if there is any change or reshuffle within the Red and White Cabinet. “Because, in truth, there is no plan for a change. If the President feels that refreshment or changes are necessary at a later time, it will be communicated to the public,” he added.
Response from Purbaya
Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has once again denied news regarding his resignation from the position of Finance Minister. He expressed surprise at the rumours, noting that he did not expect the news to spread so extensively across various media outlets.
Purbaya asserted that he has never planned to leave his current position as State Treasurer. “It seems to have been spread massively across all media,” Purbaya said during the APBN KiTa press conference at the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, on Friday, 5 June 2026.
He further stated that rather than planning to step down, he is striving to advance the management of state finances. “I am not someone who likes to retreat; I like to move forward. So, there is no plan to resign; that issue is unfounded,” he remarked. Purbaya suggested that the widespread reports, including leaflets or documents containing information about him, which evolved into resignation rumours, were the result of distorted information.