If you’re looking up who is Indonesian president right now, you probably already know it’s Prabowo Subianto. But honestly, knowing the name is just the tip of the iceberg. As we hit the start of 2026, the vibe in Jakarta is shifting from the "honeymoon phase" of his inauguration into the nitty-gritty of actual governing.
Prabowo isn't just a name on a ballot. He’s a former general, a billionaire, and the man who spent decades trying to get this specific job. He finally took the oath on October 20, 2024, succeeding the wildly popular Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
The Man in the Merdeka Palace
Prabowo is currently the 8th president of Indonesia. It’s funny because if you had asked this ten years ago, people would have said he’d never make it. He lost twice to Jokowi. Now? He’s the one calling the shots from the palace.
At 74, he’s the oldest person to ever take the office in Indonesia. That’s a massive contrast to his Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is only 38. If the name Gibran sounds familiar, it should—he’s the eldest son of the former president, Jokowi. It was a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" move that basically secured Prabowo’s win.
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Why 2026 is the Real Test for the Indonesian President
Last year was mostly about finishing Jokowi’s old projects. But 2026? This is Prabowo’s first "real" year. The 2026 state budget is the first one his team actually built from the ground up without just inheriting the previous guy's homework.
He’s betting big on some massive swings:
- The Free Nutritious Meal Program: This is his "signature" move. He wants to feed millions of school kids. It sounds great, but it’s costing a fortune—estimates are sitting around IDR 300 trillion (roughly $19 billion).
- School Revivals: Just this week, Prabowo announced he wants to renovate 60,000 schools this year.
- Defense and Science: Being a former general, he’s beefing up the military but also unexpectedly just bumped the research budget to $690 million to help with food and energy independence.
He’s basically trying to turn Indonesia into a "Golden Indonesia 2045." It’s ambitious. Some say it's too expensive.
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The Weird Dynamic with Gibran
You can't talk about who is Indonesian president without talking about the Vice President. Gibran is technically the "spare," but he’s been super active. He’s been all over the news lately, even having to cancel a trip to Papua just yesterday because of security concerns in Yahukimo.
There’s a lot of chatter in Jakarta about whether they actually get along. Gibran has been setting up his own complaint hotlines and doing his own thing. It's a bit of a political soap opera.
The Elephant in the Room: Human Rights
Prabowo’s past is... complicated. He was dismissed from the military in 1998 over allegations regarding the disappearance of pro-democracy activists. For years, he was actually banned from entering the United States.
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Now? He’s being welcomed with red carpets globally. It’s a wild pivot. Interestingly, an Indonesian diplomat, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, was just elected to lead the UN Human Rights Council for 2026. It’s a bit of a strategic "image-cleansing" move for the country’s international standing.
What This Means for You
If you’re an investor or just someone traveling to Bali, the stability under the Indonesian president matters. The rupiah has been a bit shaky because of the high spending on those free meals, but the "downstreaming" policy—keeping raw materials like nickel in the country—is still going strong.
Basically, Prabowo is trying to be a "Strongman Lite." He wants the discipline of a general but the popularity of a populist.
What to watch next:
- Keep an eye on the inflation rate. If those big social programs cause prices to spike, his popularity might dip.
- Follow the progress of IKN. That’s the new capital city in the jungle. Prabowo recently made his first official presidential visit there, signaling he’s actually going to finish Jokowi’s dream of moving the capital away from sinking Jakarta.
- The "Merah Putih" Cabinet. He has a massive cabinet—over 100 ministers and deputies. Watch for a reshuffle mid-2026 if results don't start showing up in the GDP numbers.
Prabowo Subianto is definitely not a "business as usual" president. He’s louder, more assertive, and clearly in a hurry to leave a legacy.