Prabowo Says ‘Reserves Will Be Called On’, Prompting Reshuffle Speculation

President Prabowo Subianto said that “the reserves will be called on” as he compared his Cabinet to a football team. His remarks have been interpreted as a signal that a cabinet reshuffle may be on the cards.

Agung Baskoro, executive director of Trias Politika, said the comments increased the likelihood of a reshuffle in the near future. He also raised concerns about the performance of Prabowo’s Cabinet.

“The likelihood is high. First, performance (the technocratic dimension) is still not optimal, as reflected in the declining level of public satisfaction, particularly regarding the economy, the law and the quality of the implementation of key government programmes such as MBG and Kopdes,” Agung said when contacted on Thursday (22 October 2026).

Agung said another reason concerned the political dimension, adding that Prabowo still needed to balance the existing political blocs.

“From the political dimension, there is a need to balance the political blocs, particularly the Solo bloc, so that the President has full control as Supreme Commander and Head of Government,” he said.

Agung also said there was a legal dimension to the possibility of a reshuffle. “Third, the legal dimension: there is a presidential aide suspected of being implicated in a corruption case,” he added.

Agung then mentioned several figures who could be affected by a cabinet reshuffle, including Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni.

“With forest and land fires now in the spotlight, my focus is on the Forestry Minister, Raja Juli; this is serious. Another possibility is Nusron Wahid, so he can focus on the case. He has twice failed to appear in response to summonses from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He should resign, as he has become a burden on the President,” he said.

Hendri Satrio, founder of the KedaiKOPI polling institute, shared Agung’s view that Prabowo’s remarks pointed to a cabinet reshuffle. He said the President had many people ready to replace members of the Cabinet.

“My reading is that the President has plenty of people in reserve who are ready to help him and be entrusted with particular posts. Will there be a reshuffle? Yes. The reserve players warming up before entering the arena is a pretty good way of putting it, Mr Prabowo,” said Satrio.

Prabowo’s remarks

Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto compared his Cabinet to a football team made up of first-choice players, substitutes and supporters. He urged members of the Red and White Cabinet who had not yet been given many responsibilities not to become frustrated.

Prabowo made the remarks while chairing a cabinet meeting marking two years of government at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (21 October). He said he had not intended to “play” all his ministers from the outset.

“As I said at the beginning of our government, we will not play all the players at the start. Some are substitutes, some are supporters, and some are strikers,” Prabowo said.

He urged ministers likened to substitutes to remain calm and not lose heart, assuring them that every Cabinet member would have the opportunity to play a role.

“To those on the bench, don’t be frustrated; your time will come, and we will play you,” he said.