Jakarta. The House of Representatives has approved former deputy finance minister Thomas Djiwandono as the next deputy governor of Bank Indonesia, replacing Juda Agung.

The House of Representatives’ Commission XI, which oversees finance and banking, unanimously agreed on Monday to nominate Thomas following a closed-door meeting that lasted about 30 minutes. The appointment is scheduled to be formally ratified at a plenary session on Tuesday.

Commission XI Chairman Mukhamad Misbakhun said Thomas prevailed over two internal Bank Indonesia candidates — Solikin M. Juhro, head of the macroprudential policy department, and Dicky Kartikoyono, head of the payment systems department — after a series of fit-and-proper tests.

“All eight parliamentary factions were present and agreed without a vote,” Misbakhun told reporters, adding that Thomas was viewed as a figure acceptable across party lines.

Lawmakers cited Thomas’s fiscal background as a key factor behind the decision, arguing that his experience at the Finance Ministry would complement Bank Indonesia’s monetary policy expertise and enhance the central bank’s agility as it navigates volatile global financial conditions.

“Monetary policy will be stronger when complemented by experience in fiscal policy. The two can reinforce each other,” Misbakhun said.

Under Indonesian law, senior officials at Bank Indonesia are required to maintain political neutrality to safeguard the central bank’s independence. That requirement has come under  scrutiny with Thomas’s nomination, as he is a nephew of President Prabowo Subianto and previously served as treasurer of the Gerindra Party.

His candidacy has sparked public debate over the need to preserve Bank Indonesia’s institutional independence at a time when the central bank is facing pressures from slowing global growth, capital flow volatility, and currency market uncertainty. Lawmakers sought to address those concerns during the confirmation process by highlighting Bank Indonesia’s collective decision-making framework, in which monetary and financial stability policies are determined by the Board of Governors rather than by individual officials.

Thomas also moved to reassure parliament during the hearings, confirming that he had severed all formal political ties prior to his nomination. He said he stepped down as Gerindra’s treasurer in March 2025 after 17 years in the role and formally resigned his party membership on Dec. 31, 2025.

“This is my commitment to the independence of Bank Indonesia and to professional conduct,” Thomas told lawmakers, adding that he presented documentary proof of his resignation during the hearings.

Thomas said his initial decision to relinquish his party post was part of internal regeneration, but full withdrawal from party membership was a prerequisite to protecting the central bank’s credibility as an independent institution operating under statutory mandates.

Once confirmed in plenary, Thomas will join Bank Indonesia’s board of governors as the central bank continues efforts to maintain financial stability, manage inflation, and support sustainable economic growth amid an increasingly uncertain global outlook.

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