Presidential Palace Responds to Shadow Cabinet
The Presidential Palace has responded to the existence of a Shadow Cabinet set up as a counterpart to the Red and White Cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto. This Shadow Cabinet is a civil society initiative to monitor the running of the government.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the government would study the formation of this alternative cabinet. “Everything that is well-intentioned, everything that aims to provide constructive input, we certainly welcome and are grateful for,” Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday, 20 July 2026.
The Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party likened the running of government to a football team. “Like a football team, everyone must be solid, cooperate, and work hard together. Even then, it does not necessarily end in victory,” Prasetyo stated.
A coalition of civil society groups formed the Shadow Cabinet to act as a counterpart to the Red and White Cabinet. The cabinet, comprising activists, academics, and experts, will formulate alternative policies while monitoring the government’s performance.
Feri Amsari, Chair of the Shadow Cabinet Selection Committee, said the cabinet was established due to the weakening of checks and balances against the government. He emphasised that the Shadow Cabinet does not aim to seize power. “The Shadow Cabinet is a monitoring platform and a drafter of evidence-based policy alternatives, working pro bono and non-partisan,” said the lecturer at Andalas University’s Faculty of Law in a written statement on Friday, 17 July 2026.
According to Feri, the Shadow Cabinet adopts the concept of a zaken cabinet, meaning a cabinet filled with individuals chosen for their expertise rather than political party representation. From 121 applicants and 102 names proposed by civil society networks, Feri said the panellists ultimately selected 15 ministers to serve as counterparts to Prabowo’s ministers.
Each minister in the Shadow Cabinet will be a direct counterpart to a minister in the Red and White Cabinet. Feri explained that every government policy will be reviewed and provided with alternatives based on their respective fields, rather than just general criticism.
The composition of the Shadow Cabinet is as follows:
Minister of State Secretary: Feri Amsari
Minister of Home Affairs and State Security: Armand Suparman
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Shofwan Al-Banna Choiruzzad
Minister of Defence: Curie Maharani
Minister of Women’s Rights and Marginalised Groups: Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati
Minister of Law and State Policy: Yance Arizona
Minister of Economy: Media Wahyudi Askar
Minister of Finance and Budget Governance: Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara
Minister of Environmental Protection and Climate Change: Iqbal Damanik
Minister of Education and Culture: Iman Zanatul Haeri
Minister of Research, Technology and Digital Affairs: Nenden Sekar Arum
Minister of Health: Irma Hidayana
Minister of Social Affairs and Basic Services: Nabiyla Risfa Izzati
Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty: Isnawati Hidayah
Cabinet Secretary: Ahmad Jilul Q.F.