TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Prabowo has made no decision on fuel subsidies, says aide
Prabowo has been advised to review costly fuel subsidies, which reached Rp 500 trillion ($32 billion) last year, to ensure only the poor would benefit, but it was unclear if the defence minister would take the suggestion, the vice-chair of his campaign team Eddy Soeparno told Reuters.
Change Size
Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gestures after he cast his ballot to vote in the country's presidential and legislative elections at a polling station in Bogor on February 14, 2024. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
P
rabowo Subianto has made no decision on adjusting energy subsidies, a senior member of his team said on Friday, after media reported the likely new president would target subsidies as his first move upon assuming office in October.
Prabowo has been advised to review costly fuel subsidies, which reached Rp 500 trillion ($32 billion) last year, to ensure only the poor would benefit, but it was unclear if the defence minister would take the suggestion, the vice-chair of his campaign team Eddy Soeparno told Reuters.
"I cannot say (Prabowo) has agreed, but the advice from a team of experts is for him to make the state budget more efficient," Eddy told Reuters.
Prabowo declared victory after unofficial "quick counts" by independent pollsters - which have proven to be accurate in past elections - showed the former special forces commander clinching about 58 percent of votes in Wednesday's presidential election.
With more than half the ballots counted, Prabowo had a commanding 56.85 percent of votes, more than double his nearest rival and enough for a first-round majority, the election commission's website showed.
Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan was on 25.15 percent on Friday morning and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo had 18 percent.
Once the result is officially confirmed, the new government will take office in October.
