TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Drajad Wibowo, a member of the Expert Council of the National Winning Team (TKN) of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, stated that Prabowo and his team are prepared to assist in the preparation of the State Budget Draft for 2025 if requested by President Joko Widodo. This year marks a transition in governance where Jokowi's term will end in October and be succeeded by Prabowo, who has been declared by the General Elections Commission (KPU) as the elected president in the 2024 elections.

Drajad assessed that coordinating the preparation of the State Budget Draft for 2025 is a step towards preparing the new government and ensuring a smooth fiscal policy transition.

"The authority for the preparation of the State Budget Draft for 2025 is still held by the government of President Jokowi. The coordinator is, of course, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani," said the politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) in his written message to Tempo on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024.

Drajad said that the Prabowo-Gibran TKN is also willing to assist the Ministry of Finance, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), and Bank Indonesia (BI) in preparing the posture and details of the State Budget Draft for 2025.

"The Expert Council of the Prabowo-Gibran TKN has already prepared development programs, especially since some of these programs are a continuation of President Jokowi's government programs," he said.

Previously, Jokowi held a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, April 5th, 2024. The meeting discussed the indicative ceiling of the State Budget for the year 2025. Jokowi has requested communication with the new government that will be led by the president-elect for 2024-2029.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, after the meeting, stated that Jokowi requested communication with the new government so that they can implement priority programs in the first year. Sri said that because this draft is still in a crucial transition phase, the Jokowi government will continue to refine the design and posture of the State Budget for the year 2025.

"However, we will still maintain proper political processes, properly and positively," said Sri.

Jokowi will end his term on October 20, 2024, when Prabowo is inaugurated by the People's Consultative Assembly. The General Elections Commission has already declared Prabowo and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi's son, as the winners of the 2024 Presidential Election.

SAVERO ARISTIA WIENANTO

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