Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto defended his large cabinet on Wednesday, arguing that uniting political forces was necessary to maintain stability and improve public welfare in a country as vast and populous as Indonesia.

Speaking at a plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Prabowo rejected criticism that his administration's 53 ministers and minister-level officials made the government inefficient. The meeting was convened to review the first two years of his presidency and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

“If we follow Western-style democracy today, just look at television and the news every day. Look at what is happening in France, Italy, and Europe, where democracy and human rights were taught to us,” Prabowo told senior government officials, without specifying which developments he was referring to.

Prabowo said his decision to bring together a broad range of political forces was intended to strengthen national stability and accelerate improvements in living standards.

“That is the consequence of the political approach I have taken. Our political coalition is indeed very large because I want as many forces as possible to unite in improving the lives of our people,” he said.

The president dismissed accusations that the so-called Red and White Cabinet was too large and inefficient, arguing that governing an archipelago of nearly 300 million people required strong coordination across a vast territory.

“I do not want to repeat what has happened in the past. In a country as large as ours, with such intense political competition, there are limited positions and only one president. We are accused of having an oversized, inefficient cabinet,” he said.

Prabowo compared Indonesia's governance structure with Europe's, noting that the continent consists of about 30 countries, each with its own government and senior officials.

“Europe has 30 countries, 30 cabinets, 30 finance ministers, 30 military commanders, 30 attorneys general, and 30 police chiefs. Indonesia has just one cabinet. How is that inefficient?” he said, adding that the government had also been able to respond to natural disasters.

The cabinet meeting came as the administration reviewed national resilience across key sectors, including the economy, food security, energy, and defense, amid global uncertainty.

Gibran attended alongside coordinating ministers, other cabinet members, deputy ministers, heads of state agencies, and senior military and police officials. Members of the Presidential Advisory Council, including Pratikno, Hatta Rajasa and Rocky Gerung, were also present.

Prabowo and Gibran's administration comprises 53 ministers and minister-level officials, including coordinating ministers and special officials, supported by dozens of deputy ministers.

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