Indonesia replaces finance minister after violent protests

Jakarta: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday removed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle following deadly anti g...

Jakarta: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday removed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle following deadly anti-government protests across the country.

Sri Mulyani is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and was finance minister under three different presidents. Her house was ransacked during the recent protests over lavish perks for lawmakers.

Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, an economist who previously served as the chief commissioner of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation, was appointed as her successor, according to a presidential decree.

Prabowo did not give any reason for Sri Mulyani's removal from the cabinet. He also honourably discharged chief security minister Budi Gunawan and sports minister Dito Ariotedjo.

Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, said Sri Mulyani's removal was not surprising, considering the recent economic situation in the country.