Prabowo Says He Has No Problem with a ‘Bulky’ Red and White Cabinet: ‘Our Coalition Is Large’

President Prabowo Subianto responded to criticism that the Red and White Cabinet is too large, saying his government has a broad coalition.

Prabowo made the remarks in his opening address to a plenary cabinet meeting marking two years of government, at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (21 October 2026).

He said a broad coalition was necessary to bring as many political forces as possible together to govern in a way that improves public welfare.

“Our coalition is large. I want as many forces as possible to unite in improving the lives of our people,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo said a country as large as Indonesia had significant political dynamics. But despite the fierce competition, he added, the number of cabinet positions was limited.

“I do not want to keep revisiting what has already happened. In a country as large as ours, with political dynamics on this scale, competition is bound to be fierce, while the number of seats is limited.

“Why is someone smiling? This party leader understands. There are only a limited number of seats, and there is only one president,” he said.

He then responded to claims that a large cabinet was inefficient, pointing out that Indonesia’s land area was comparable to Europe’s.

“We are accused of having a bloated cabinet, of being inefficient, aren’t we? But, ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you: our country has nearly 300 million people, and its physical size is comparable to Europe,” he said.

He added that Europe, across a similar area, comprised around 30 countries, each with its own cabinet. Indonesia, by contrast, had just one.

“Europe has 30 countries, 30 cabinets, 30 finance ministers, 30 military commanders, 30 attorneys-general and 30 police chiefs. Indonesia has one cabinet, ladies and gentlemen. So which one is inefficient? Which one is inefficient?” he said.

Prabowo said the current cabinet had enabled his government to deal with a range of challenges, including recent natural disasters in Indonesia.

“We have been able to manage them. We have faced natural disasters. We mobilised extensively in northern Sumatra recently. What was that earthquake? Krakatau. We worked together to tackle forest and land fires. We are not satisfied; we are learning,” he said.