{
  "id": 1580489,
  "title": "A well-intentioned budget",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/a-well-intentioned-budget",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-17T22:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2026/08/18/a-well-intentioned-budget.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In his latest budget proposal, President Prabowo Subianto has shifted his focus to fiscal responsibility, aiming to achieve a budget deficit of 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for the coming year. This move comes after his previous budget address saw a decline in approval ratings, prompting criticism over regional funding cuts and leadership changes at key economic institutions such as the Finance Ministry, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and Bank Indonesia.\n\nThe President's emphasis now lies on structural priorities, including optimizing the assets of state-owned enterprises through public-private partnerships, establishing a domestic electric motorcycle ecosystem to boost industrial development, and constructing 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity to advance the country's energy transition. These measures represent a marked departure from last year's budget, which prioritized defense spending and controversial programs like the free nutritious meal initiative and Red and White Village Cooperatives, both of which faced scrutiny for corruption and food safety issues.\n\nThe government has also capped the allocation for free meals at Rp 240 trillion (US$13.5 billion) for the following year, a significant reduction from the initial Rp 335 trillion proposed. While this represents a significant improvement, the government must now prove that it can maintain fiscal discipline and carry out these initiatives without risking the stability of the macroeconomy amid global geopolitical uncertainties.",
  "summary": "Facing tumbling approval ratings and economic pushback, President Prabowo Subianto pivots to fiscal discipline in his latest budget—but delivering on his ambitious promises will be the real test.",
  "key_points": [
    "President Prabowo aims for 2.4% budget deficit of GDP",
    "Focus on optimizing state assets and solar power capacity",
    "Free meal allocation capped at Rp 240 trillion"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}