PKS Supports Prabowo Recruiting New Cabinet Members: They Don't Have to Be from Parties

The head of the Prosperous Justice Party’s (PKS) Election Winning Body (Bappilu), Mardani Ali Sera, has responded to the issue of a cabinet refresh or reshuffle following 17 August. Mardani supports President Prabowo Subianto if he wishes to recruit new people into the cabinet with strong capabilities. “I have not received any news. Essentially, it is the President’s prerogative. But a merit system needs to be considered,” Mardani told reporters on Sunday (9/8/2026). Mardani said there needs to be bureaucratic reform within the government. He noted that President Prabowo has a heavy task, considering the results of several recent surveys which suggest the government’s performance has not been optimal. “Plus, bureaucratic reform needs to be implemented. Lean structure and rich in function. President Prabowo has a heavy task. In several surveys, the level of public satisfaction has dropped,” he said. The member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) supports the government if it wants to recruit new people for the Red and White Cabinet. Mardani noted that the priority should be individuals with integrity, without necessarily having to rely on party members. “It is good if they want to recruit people who are known to the public as having capacity and integrity. If necessary, professionals, not necessarily party people. There are many qualified sons and daughters of the nation,” he said. Previously, rumours circulated about a reshuffle of the cabinet by President Prabowo Subianto after 17 August. Several senior party officials and the Palace have responded to the issue. According to information gathered by detikcom on Saturday (8/8/2026), the reshuffle will be carried out after 17 August 2026. The news suggests this cabinet shake-up will be minor, merely filling currently vacant positions. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi also spoke out. He said that if a reshuffle occurs, filling vacant deputy minister positions will be a priority. “Regarding the reshuffle issue, we also need to convey that until today there are no plans for a reshuffle of the Red and White Cabinet,” Pras said to reporters at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday (7/8). “Once again, if there are changes or what is termed a reshuffle, perhaps the priority is to fill positions that, for some reason, are currently vacant,” he said.