Aburizal Bakrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aburizal Bakrie
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Bakrie in March 2011
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| 9th General Chairman of Golkar Party | |
| In office 9 October 2009 – 17 May 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Jusuf Kalla |
| Succeeded by | Setya Novanto |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 November 1946 Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Political party | Golkar |
| Spouse | Tatty Murnitriati |
| Children | 3, including Anindya Bakrie |
| Alma mater | Bandung Institute of Technology |
Aburizal Bakrie (born 15 November 1946) is a well-known Indonesian politician and a successful businessman. He is famous for leading the Bakrie Group, a large company that works in many different areas. Mr. Bakrie served as a government minister in Indonesia. He was the Coordinating Minister for the Economy from 2004 to 2005. After that, he became the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare from 2005 to 2009. He also led the Golkar Party, a major political party, for several years.
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Early Life and Education
Aburizal Bakrie was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 15, 1946. His father, Achmad Bakrie, started the company known today as the Bakrie Group. His mother was Roosniah Nasution. Aburizal is the oldest of four children. He has two brothers, Nirwan Bakrie and Indra Usmansyah Bakrie, and one sister, Roosniah Odi Bakrie. He studied electrical engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology and graduated in 1973.
Career Highlights
Business Leadership
In 1972, Aburizal Bakrie joined his family's company, PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, which is now called the Bakrie Group. This company grew very big and successful alongside Indonesia's economy. The Bakrie Group is involved in many different businesses. These include farming, real estate, trading, shipping, banking, and mining.
As the oldest child, Bakrie became the chairman of the family business from 1999 to 2004. He faced big challenges during the Asian economic crisis in 1998. However, he managed to keep the company strong after a major financial process in 2000.
Public Service Roles
Aburizal Bakrie also held important public positions. From 1991 to 1995, he was the President of the ASEAN Business Forum for two terms. He also served as the President of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) from 1994 to 2004. As a member of the Golkar Party, he also tried to become their candidate for president in 2004.
Minister for the Economy
In 2004, Aburizal Bakrie left his business role to become the Coordinating Minister for the Economy. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed him to this position. Soon after, Bakrie introduced a new plan to help reduce poverty in Indonesia. This plan involved changing fuel subsidies and giving financial help to millions of people.
He believed that gradually increasing fuel prices would help the country's budget. This move was seen as a positive step for Indonesia's economy. Bakrie also helped solve a long-standing disagreement between ExxonMobil Corporation and PT Pertamina. This dispute was about a large oil discovery project in Java. His actions showed the government's commitment to improving business in Indonesia.
Minister for People's Welfare
After a change in the government in 2005, Aburizal Bakrie became the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare. In 2008, he announced a program to give cash help to nearly 19 million low-income families. This program aimed to lessen the impact of rising fuel prices on these families.
Leading the Golkar Party
In 2009, Aburizal Bakrie was chosen as the Chairman of the Golkar Party. He won this position during a party meeting in Pekanbaru, Riau. In 2010, he helped form a strong group in parliament with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's party. He was then chosen to lead this group.
Sidoarjo Mudflow Event
Aburizal Bakrie's name is connected to the Sidoarjo mud flow event. This event happened on May 29, 2006, in Sidoarjo, East Java. It caused a lot of damage to the environment and affected many lives. Scientists have different ideas about what caused the mudflow. Some think it was a natural event, possibly linked to an earthquake that happened nearby. However, others, including the government, believe it was caused by drilling activities. These activities were carried out by PT Lapindo Brantas, a company in which Bakrie's family had a major share.
The mudflow caused a lot of problems for the people living in the area. It covered more than 6,000 hectares of land. Thousands of people had to leave their homes. Many buildings and rice fields were also covered by the mud.
Presidential Elections 2014
Around 2010, news began to suggest that Aburizal Bakrie wanted to become the Golkar Party's candidate for president in Indonesia's 2014 election. He often said he hoped to be chosen. On June 30, 2012, at a meeting in Bogor, Bakrie was officially named the party's presidential candidate for the 2014 election.
Some people in the party thought this decision was made too early. They believed the party should have waited longer to choose a candidate. However, others felt it was important to pick a candidate well before the election. This was because Indonesia is a very large country with many provinces and a huge population.
In the end, Bakrie did not become president. Other candidates, like former general Prabowo Subianto and former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, were more popular in opinion polls.
See also
- United Indonesia Cabinet
