UNAIR NEWS – The appointment of 26 members of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) of the Republic of Indonesia by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace on Friday (October 2, 2026) drew scrutiny. Responding to the scrutiny, Dr Suko Widodo Drs MSi, a political communication expert at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), highlighted the urgency of intellectual independence among the members, so that Wantimpres does not become a mere vehicle for political accommodation.
More than just a variety of names
Dr Widodo explained that the diverse backgrounds of the 26 figures sworn in, ranging from religious leaders, entrepreneurs, military officials, and technocrats to critical figures such as Rocky Gerung, reflect a strategy of political representation. The President’s move to embrace various elements of society shows a desire to open a broad circle of counsel.
“This diverse composition reflects a strategy of political representation, so that the circle of counsel is not filled only by like-minded parties. However, representation only has value if it produces a diversity of views, not just names,” said the lecturer in the Doctoral Program in Social Sciences.
He added that the measure of success for this strategy lies in how open the space for discussion is inside the council. “The measure is simple: whether they are truly given room to disagree with the President or not. The issue is not merely the number of members, but the quality of their advice, so that Wantimpres’ critical capacity does not weaken,” he stressed.
Mechanisms for criticism and the ideal role
Regarding how Wantimpres works behind closed doors, Dr Widodo highlighted the importance of internal integrity and procedural discipline. According to him, the confidentiality of its advice must not erase the institution’s responsibility and objectivity.
“Confidentiality must not turn into an absence of accountability. Wantimpres must not become an honorary position, it should be a space where the President hears things that may be unpleasant for him,” he said.
Meanwhile, to prevent overlap with the Merah Putih Cabinet, Dr Widodo stressed the need for a firm division of roles so that the advisory council does not turn into a shadow cabinet. “Ministers are tasked with carrying out policy, while Wantimpres offers a second opinion and reads risks without getting involved in running ministry programs,” he said.
Finally, he said the existence of Wantimpres should serve as a means of constructive oversight and evaluation of how the government runs. “A healthy government is not one without criticism, but one with mechanisms to receive it before it becomes a crisis. The success of Wantimpres is measured by its ability to help the President see what is unseen and correct decisions before it is too late,” Dr Widodo concluded.
Author: M Yasir Dharmawan Diniy
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
