President Prabowo Subianto Replaces Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa with Suahasil Nazara

President Prabowo Subianto abruptly removed Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa from his position as finance minister on Monday, September 14, 2026. Purbaya was replaced by his deputy, Suahasil Nazara, who was sworn in at the State Palace. Purbaya reported that he learned of his dismissal via a phone call from the president's spokesperson, Prasetyo Hadi, while he was attending a parliamentary meeting. During a handover ceremony on Tuesday, Purbaya stated he was upset by the decision but had half expected it, citing a 50 percent chance of being fired over a recent decision. He suggested that differences with subordinates regarding the rotation of 300 officials in the tax, customs, and excise offices may have contributed to his removal. Purbaya described his roughly one year in office as decent, noting that economic growth rose from below 5 percent to above 5 percent during his tenure. However, other reports note his term saw the widest budget deficit in over twenty years outside of the pandemic and credit rating outlook downgrades from Fitch and Moody's. Purbaya expressed that he does not wish to return to a government post and intends to retire to fish in his pond. The new minister, Suahasil Nazara, is a veteran technocrat who has pledged to safeguard fiscal credibility and abide by the legislated fiscal deficit limit of 3 percent of GDP. Analysts suggest Nazara may provide the policy continuity and predictability needed to reassure investors.