By Stefanno Sulaiman and Ananda Teresia
JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto is considering offering current finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati a cabinet minister post in his administration, three sources told Reuters, as the president-elect finalises his ministerial picks.
Prabowo on Monday held meetings with dozens of people in his South Jakarta residence, mostly politicians in his broad coalition, who said they had been asked to serve as ministers after Prabowo’s Sunday inauguration.
It was unclear if Sri Mulyani was invited to Prabowo’s residence – she did not show up until late afternoon – but three sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters Prabowo was considering a cabinet seat for her.
Former World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani could be asked to stay on as finance minister or become coordinating minister of economic affairs because of the confidence financial markets have in her, said one of the sources, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the information.
“There must be a name that has international reputation in (Prabowo’s) cabinet,” the source said.
Sri Mulyani is among a few people that Prabowo is still considering as his finance chief, a second source said.
A third source confirmed Prabowo’s potential offer for Sri Mulyani and said the president-elect would meet prospective candidates until Tuesday.
Representatives for Sri Mulyani and Prabowo did not respond to a request for comment. The finance ministry declined to comment.
Speculation has been rife about who will be Prabowo’s finance minister after the president-elect’s comments earlier this year on his plans to take on more debt set local bond and currency markets on edge.
Last week, Prabowo told an economic forum he would keep many capable ministers from the administration of outgoing President Joko Widodo, but did not name any names.
Speaking after their meetings with Prabowo, several officials, including interior minister Tito Karnavian, trade minister Zulkifli Hasan and energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia, said they had been asked to serve again in Prabowo’s cabinet, but did not elaborate on what seat they were offered.
Sri Mulyani, one of Indonesia’s longest-serving finance ministers who has worked under two presidents, has won plaudits for reforming the taxation system and for her role in steering Indonesia through several crises, including the pandemic.
News website Kumparan.com on Monday reported Sri Mulyani was “almost certain” to be given the finance minister job, citing sources.
(Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman and Ananda Teresia; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by John Mair and Bernadette Baum)
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