January 20, 2026 | 06:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The series of protests that struck Indonesia at the end of August 2025 represents wider economic problems in the country, said Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. Purbaya said on Monday that this condition reflects how "people are having a hard time finding jobs" and that their "access to food is disrupted."
Therefore, Purbaya went on, the Indonesian government is creating countercyclical policies to address and reverse the situation. The minister also claimed to have barely received news about protests these days.
The government, he said, must ensure faster economic growth in the future to create more job opportunities, "so people are busy working instead of protesting."
The 2025 unrest became the highlight for Purbaya. During the APBN KiTa press conference at the Ministry of Finance office on January 8, 2026, Purbaya mentioned the protests while discussing the economic overview of Indonesia throughout 2025.
Purbaya explained that the protests against lawmakers had caused turmoil in the market. "The demonstrations in August-September led to pressure on the financial market, especially the rupiah," he said at the time.
There were concerns about the government under Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. "Some were even worried whether the government could move forward," he said.
Nevertheless, Purbaya lauded the administration's quick response in addressing the impact. Besides the DPR demonstrations, Purbaya also revealed the series of events that had affected the domestic economy throughout the previous year.
Ilona Estherina contributed to the writing of this article
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