Prabowo to deliver speech at DPR plenary session for the first time today

President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto will attend a DPR plenary session to speak on the macroeconomic framework and fiscal policy on Wednesday, 20 May. The plenary session is scheduled to begin at 09:00 WIB, with Prabowo delivering a 45-minute address. He is expected to present the Macro-Economic Framework and the Key Principles of Fiscal Policy (KEM PPKF).

‘The plan is as such. So for the delivery of the macroeconomic framework, as well as the key fiscal policy principles that will be delivered directly by the president,’ said Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Saan Mustopa, at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (19/5).

Separately, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said there would be important messages from Prabowo in his DPR plenary address. ‘There are important messages within the KEM PPKF, where within the KEM PPKF there are the President’s flagship programmes, so it must be him who speaks, not me,’ he said at the APBN Kita press conference at the Ministry of Finance, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (19/5).

Purbaya noted that Prabowo’s attendance at the DPR to present the KEM PPKF would be a first in history.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said Prabowo would become the first president to personally deliver the Macro-Economic Framework and the Key Fiscal Policy Principles at a DPR plenary session. Dasco noted that previous presidents were represented by ministers in DPR plenary sessions, and constitutionally there is no rule obliging the president to attend in person as he can be represented by his ministers. However, there is also no prohibition on the president attending in person and delivering a speech.

Separately, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi revealed Prasetyo’s intention to attend the DPR plenary session to unite views and bolster the nation’s economic stewardship. Prasetyo also described this as a momentum for the National Awakening Day, which falls on 20 May. ‘On 20 May, National Awakening Day, the President wishes to capitalise on the moment to once again unite our views and strength as a single nation, especially in carrying out the task of safeguarding our nation’s economy,’ Prasetyo said in a brief message on Tuesday (19/5).