Paloh Responds to Prabowo's Rupiah Target: What Else Do We Have Besides Optimism?

Jakarta, VIVA – Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, has spoken about President Prabowo Subianto’s target for the rupiah to stabilise in 2027 at around Rp16,800 to Rp17,500 per US dollar. Paloh said he is optimistic that the target can be achieved. He stated that the last asset owned by the Indonesian people is optimism.

‘Besides optimism, what else do we have? That may be what we need to understand. Our last capital is that optimism itself,’ Paloh told reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

‘Otherwise I think, we do not need to argue; it is just optimism. If that is finished, we have nothing left,’ he added.

Paloh also hopes that the spirit of optimism can be maintained going forward.

‘Though we hope we can keep that optimism,’ Paloh said.

In this regard, Paloh also commented on President Prabowo’s speech. According to him, the speech delivered by Prabowo can build patriotic spirit.

‘That can clearly reaffirm how we must remain firmly committed to the basic principle of Article 33 of the Constitution,’ he said.

However, Paloh emphasised that the government’s strategy is not easy. Therefore broad support from various parties is needed.

‘The issue perhaps is what we need to scrutinise—the strategy, which is quite strategic, it is not all taken for granted, it cannot be easily implemented in such a manner. This requires our collective attention,’ he said.

‘In short, we support these big ideas, but with one condition that cannot be separated from our shared commitment—the government itself must be able to maintain reserves if this is not implemented as planned. This is what I want to emphasise here,’ Paloh added.

Earlier, it was reported that President Prabowo Subianto delivered his speech related to the Macro Economic Framework and Core Fiscal Policy (KEM PPKF) for the 2027 RAPBN at a plenary session of the DPR on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

In that opportunity, Prabowo targeted government securities (SBN) with a 10-year tenor at a maximum of 7.3 percent. He also targeted the rupiah to be in the range Rp16,800 to Rp17,500 per US dollar.