Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Testifies in Election Dispute Hearing at Constitutional Court

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati guaranteed that the preparation of the 2024 State Budget (APBN) was not affected by the 2024 general election, including the presidential election.

"We ensure that the 2024 State Budget preparation and its promulgation into law are not influenced by those who would run in the presidential elections," Sri Mulyani said on Friday, testifying for a presidential election dispute hearing at Constitutional Court.

Sri Mulyani said that the 2024 State Budget had been processed long before the election was held. She pointed out that the initial stage of planning and budgeting for the 2024 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) was carried out in January-July 2023.

Furthermore, the former World Bank Managing Director said that the Macroeconomic Framework and Fiscal Policy Principles (KEMPPKF), Government Work Plan (RKP), and budget ceilings for ministries had been discussed with the House of Representatives (DPR).

"The President submitted the Financial Note and the 2024 State Budget Bill to DPR at the Plenary Session on August 16, 2023," she said. 

The government and DPR began discussing the State Budget Bill within the following month. DPR, Sri Mulyani continued, approved the Bill and the government issued a Presidential Regulation on the State Budget no later than a month after the approval. 

She also compared the chronology of the 2024 State Budget preparation with the election process. According to her, the State Budget was promulgated before the determination of running presidential candidates on November 13, 2023. "(The State Budget) was even completed before the registration deadline for presidential candidacy on October 25, 2023," she concluded. 

SAVERO ARISTIA WIENANTO

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