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Prabowo pledges fiscal prudence, eyes broader coalition, aide says
The government's guidance for next year's fiscal gap is between 2.48 percent to 2.8 percent of GDP
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President-elect Prabowo Subianto (center) prays with Democratic Party chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (second left), Golkar Party chair Airlangga Hartarto (third left), National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Zulkifli Hasan (second right) and Crescent Star Party (PBB) chair Yusril Ihza Mahendra at Prabowo's private residence at Jl. Kertanegara in South Jakarta on March 20, 2024. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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resident-elect Prabowo Subianto will be prudent in fiscal management and uphold laws that limit public debt and annual budget deficits, the head of the biggest party backing Prabowo told Reuters on Thursday.
Foreign investors have been monitoring details of the incoming government's fiscal stance, after ratings agencies warned programs that Prabowo had pledged during his campaign would be costly and could undermine the country's hard-earned reputation of fiscal discipline.
"We will manage the macroprudential side," said Airlangga Hartarto, chairman of Indonesia's second-biggest party Golkar, which is part of a coalition of four parties backing Prabowo. Airlangga is also the current chief economics minister.
"We will follow the law: public debt cannot exceed 60 percent [of GDP], [annual budget] deficit ceiling at 3 percent [of GDP]," he said in an interview.
Read also: For Prabowo, domestic market 'main leverage' to woo investors
The government's guidance for next year's fiscal gap is between 2.48 percent to 2.8 percent of GDP. This was decided in a meeting headed by outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, with Prabowo in attendance, said Airlangga.
While this year's fiscal deficit may swell to 2.8 percent of GDP, according to Airlangga, the government typically manages deficits at around 2% of GDP, except for during the pandemic.
Jokowi has included Prabowo in many economic meetings, such as policy discussions on food prices, to smooth the transition of power, Airlangga said, describing Prabowo's upcoming term as a continuation of Jokowi's 10-year tenure in office.
Broadening coalition
Indonesia's strict rules on fiscal limits were introduced in the aftermath of the late 1990s Asian financial crisis to reform public finance management.
Prabowo's flagship program of free lunches and milk for students and pregnant women has been a particular concern among analysts. When fully implemented, the program is expected to cost more than $28 billion.
Prabowo's coalition won 48 percent of seats in parliament, but Airlangga said he is confident there would not be much opposition against his programs.
Prabowo may broaden his coalition and control more than 60 percent seats in parliament if NasDem, a political party currently backing losing presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, jumps ship, Airlangga said.
Read also: Proposal for Jokowi to lead transition team fails to gain traction
Such a move is likely to come after the Constitutional Court rules on ongoing election disputes, Airlangga said.
Talks of changing alliances and political jockeying have made headlines in Southeast Asia's largest economy after the election commission last month officially announced the outcome of presidential and parliamentary votes.
Prabowo also has plans to meet the chairman of Indonesia's biggest political party PDI-P to talk about a possible coalition, according to media reports.
"The way I see it, there is little chance of existing parties not to negotiate joining the government ... Most of political parties in Indonesia are used to working within the government," Airlangga said.
