Indonesian civil society forms 'shadow cabinet' to provide checks and balances

A coalition of Indonesian civil society figures, including academics and activists, has established a 'shadow cabinet' as a response to the current government. This initiative, announced on Saturday, July 18, 2026, is not intended to challenge the existing power structure led by Prabowo Subianto but rather to fulfill the function of checks and balances on the executive branch. The organizers believe there is a lack of formal opposition capable of balancing the 'Red and White Cabinet,' which is largely composed of political parties from the ruling coalition.

Feri Amsari, the head of the selection committee for the shadow cabinet, emphasized that Indonesia possesses competent individuals capable of governance, but political interests have hindered their potential. He assured that the formation of this cabinet is entirely independent of political parties or politicians, with all work being voluntary and pro bono. Operational funding currently comes from internal contributions, with no foreign or corporate support. Future plans include launching a public crowdfunding campaign.

The shadow cabinet will operate on a 'man-to-man marking' principle, where each appointed minister will serve as a direct counterpart to a minister in the official Cabinet Merah Putih, focusing on the same issues or policy areas. This approach aims to provide specific counter-arguments and alternative ideas to government policies, rather than general commentary. The selection process involved an open and rigorous screening of hundreds of candidates by an independent panel consisting of Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, Bivitri Susanti, and Zainal Arifin Mochtar.

Six key criteria were used to select the shadow ministers: integrity, competence with a public track record, age under 50, critical thinking and courage, a commitment to the public's interests, and no political party affiliation. The selection committee also prioritized gender balance, with 40% of the 15 appointed shadow ministers being women. The appointed ministers include Feri Amsari as Minister Secretary of State, Armand Suparman as Minister of Home Affairs and State Security, and Shofwan Al-Banna Choiruzzad as Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others.