Who is Sugiono? From Prabowo's 'Ideological Child' to Indonesia's New Foreign Minister

October 21, 2024 | 05:43 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sugiono, the Deputy Chair of the Gerindra Party, has officially been inaugurated as Indonesia’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs on Monday, October 21, 2024. Sugiono is known to have extensive experience both in the military and in politics.

The inauguration of Prabowo-Gibran as the 8th elected President and Vice President of Indonesia took place on Sunday, October 20, at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta. The inauguration marks the beginning of Prabowo and Gibran’s five-year term until 2029. 

So, who is Sugiono, who now holds the Foreign Minister post in the country? 

Sugiono is a Gerindra Party politician born in Takengon, Aceh, on February 11, 1979. He is a ‘97 graduate of Taruna Nusantara High School. Currently, Sugiono serves as the Chair of the Taman Taruna Nusantara Education Foundation (LPTTN) and the Deputy Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR).

The 45-year-old man spent his childhood in Aceh. He attended primary school at SDN 1 Takengon from 1985 to 1991, then continued to SMPN 3 Banda Aceh from 1991 to 1994.

After completing middle school, he went on to study at Taruna Nusantara High School. His ambition to become a military officer led him to apply as a cadet at the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy, or AKABRI.

At that time, the Commander of Kopassus, Major Gen. Prabowo Subianto, launched a program to send Taruna Nusantara alumni to military colleges in the United States on scholarships. His desire to become a military officer and the opportunity to study abroad motivated him to apply.

Sugiono eventually passed the selection process and pursued his education as a cadet at Norwich University, the oldest military campus in the United States.

During his education in the United States, he earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Norwich University and stayed and worked in Rhode Island.

After returning to Indonesia, Sugiono continued his military officer candidate education (Semapa PK) at the Military Academy in Magelang. He graduated in 2002 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps.

During his time as a military officer, Sugiono served as Prabowo Subianto's personal secretary before the formation of the Gerindra Party. He had been Prabowo’s trusted assistant for a long while. 

Shortly after, Sugiono entered the political sphere as a member of the Founding Council of the Gerindra Party and has been active as a cadre since 2008.

He later served as the Deputy Chair and Secretary General of the Gerindra Party for the 2020-2025 period. Additionally, from 2021 to 2024, he served as the Chair of the Gerindra Faction in the Indonesian Parliament.

Sugiono has earned the nickname Prabowo's “ideological child” due to his intelligence and closeness to the president.

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