Prabowo Inaugurates 26 Wantimpres Members, Pratikno Named Chair

Jakarta, 2 October 2026 — President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated 26 members of the Presidential Advisory Council (Dewan Pertimbangan Presiden or Wantimpres) at the State Palace (Istana Negara) in Jakarta on Friday, 2 October 2026.

Former Minister of State Secretary Pratikno was appointed Chair, with former Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa as Vice Chair. The ceremony opened with the national anthem Indonesia Raya, followed by the signing of documents and the swearing-in of the members before the President.

Notable members

The council brings together former officials, religious leaders, business figures and public intellectuals. Members named in media reports include:

• Pratikno (Chair) and Hatta Rajasa (Vice Chair);
• Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Said Aqil Siradj, Yahya Cholil Staquf and Anwar Iskandar;
• Sinta Nuriyah Wahid — reported as the only woman on the council;
• retired generals Agum Gumelar and Budi Gunawan;
• Bambang Soesatyo, Soekarwo and Ignasius Jonan;
• businesspeople Chairul Tanjung, Dato' Sri Tahir and Jusuf Hamka;
• former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman, constitutional law expert Margarito Kamis, and commentator Rocky Gerung.

The same day, the President also installed Syahganda Nainggolan as Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom RI).

Legal context: what is Wantimpres?

Wantimpres is based on Article 16 of the 1945 Constitution, which allows the President to form an advisory council, and is regulated by Law No. 19 of 2006 on the Presidential Advisory Council. Its task is to give advice and considerations to the President in exercising governmental power — whether requested or not. The council sits under, and is responsible to, the President, and its members may not disclose the content of their advice to other parties.

Wantimpres is an advisory body: it does not issue decisions that bind the public. Policies only take legal effect once the President or the relevant ministry issues a formal regulation or decree.

Have a question about how new government policies or regulations affect your business or dispute? Contact Andri and Partners.

Sources: Kompas.com, detikcom, NU Online, Infobank News, VIVA (2 October 2026).