Ruben Sasanta

The Honourable Ruben Sasanta SC MSUd CH
Official portrait, 1999
9th Prime Minister of Uskad
In office 9 June 1999 – 19 September 2011
President	Galih Nugroho Letena Sutana Tushtu Sukala
Deputy	Herbertus Halim (to 2004) Talin Jemenak (from 2004)
Preceded by	Isaia Kalesono
Succeeded by	Talin Jemenak
Leader of the Opposition
In office 11 August 1995 – 9 June 1999
Prime Minister	Leteno Sutana Isaia Kalesono
Deputy	Yohanes Numa
Member of Parliament for Sundarawan East
In office 7 October 1984 – 2 September 2019
Preceded by	Yako Hunes
Succeeded by	constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1956-02-10) 10 February 1956 Panpinangan, Talukerta
Political party	Progressive Workers' Party
Relations	Suni Jesnio (m. 1981)
Children	3
Residence	Panpinangan
Alma mater	National University of Uskad, PhD
Profession	Professional services

Ruben Wibawa Prasetya Sasanta SC MSUd CH (born 10 February 1956) is an Uskadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Uskad from 1999 to 2011 and Leader of the Progressive Workers' Party from 1995 and 2011. He also served as Member of Parliament for Sundarawan East from 1984 to 2019. His 12-year tenure is the second longest in Uskadian history, behind the country’s founder and inaugural Prime Minister, Robert Susilman.

Sasanta was born in Panpinangan to a working-class family. He was mostly educated at public schools, and attended the National University of Uskad. He later joined the Progressive Workers' Party, working as a functionary and was elected as the MP for Sundarawan East in 1984. He first served as as an adviser to many shadow ministers, and was later appointed by PWP leader Yako Hunes as Shadow Minister of Youth and Sports in 1989. He later became Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1994. Hunes resigned in 1995, and Sasanta was elected leader unopposed.

He began to reform the party, and the PWP adopted many moderate and centrist policies under his leadership, though he was cautious of straying too far to the centre. He later led to the PWP to a landslide victory in 1999, with a sweeping 110-seat majority. His first term was marked by major reforms of the country's welfare system, announced major infrastructure projects and delivered stable economic growth assisted by the efforts of Treasury Minister Herbertus Halim. He also legalised same-sex marriage in 2002, autonomy for provinces, and a failed referendum for federalisation.

He led the PWP to a larger landslide in 2004, with a 186-seat majority. He began to focus on the environment for his second term, passing legislation to increase usage of green energy. He also announced a large-scale project of constructing nuclear power plants. He later faced crisis during the 2008 financial crisis, and Uskad was hardest hit during the recession. The PWP managed to win the 2009 general elections, but with a reduced majority. By his third term, Sasanta was increasingly unpopular, and was replaced by Talin Jemenak. He later retired from frontline politics in 2019.

Early life and education

Ruben Wibawa Prasetya Sasanta was born in Tebersa State Hospital in Panpinangan to mixed Javanese-Native Uskadian parents. His father, Teddy Prakasa (1919-2009), was a business consultant, while his mother, Kalatana Satarana (1925-2023), was a nurse. Sasanta was the eldest child in the family, and had two younger siblings.

He grew up in council housing with his parents, while his two other siblings were sent to live with other relatives. His parents later relocated to Tehumyas, to move to the relatively wealthy area of Citabak, after his father had obtained a position at a consultancy firm.

He first attended Citabak State Primary School, where he was known to be quiet and reserved. He was nicknamed Henry by his classmates. Sasanta began to be interested in politics at age 12, when he saw then-Prime Minister Robert Susilman doing a campaign speech at his neighbourhood, which inspired Sasanta to consider a career in politics. He later attended the Catholic St. Hilarius Secondary School. It was here he met childhood friend and future Minister of the Treasury Herbertus Halim. He was frequenly bullied during his time at St. Hilarius, due to his obsession with many of his hobbies but Sasanta himself stated that he still liked the school despite the bullying.

He later attended the National University of Uskad, where he studied Economics. While at the university, he was part of the university's gamelan club, and was reportedly skilled at the gendang. Sasanta later demonstrated his skill during a visit to Indonesia in 2002. He was also part of the University's branch of the Progressive Workers' Party, for which he became chairman for two years. He later graduated with a PhD in economics, and later joined the Progressive Workers' Party proper.

Early political career

He intially worked as a party functionary in the PWP, but was later encouraged by childhood Herbertus Halim to run as an MP. He was selected by the PWP to run for the constituency of Sundarawan East, defeating CNP incumbent Yako Hunes and was one of the PWP gains, due to the CNP maintaining their majority in the election. He, along with 23 other MPs, became one of the founders of the PWP Democratic Socialists. After consideration by party leader Gena Supaka, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Youth and Sports. He was described as a mainstream social democrat, in contrast to the almost far-left membership of the party.

After the PWP’s poor performance at the 1994 general elections, Sasanta was one of the shadow cabinet members that pressured Supaka into resigning. Supaka later complied and resigned in 1995. Sasanta was unanimously elected as new PWP leader and became the new Leader of the Opposition. Around this time Prime Minister Letena Sutana resigned and was replaced by his Treasury Minister, Isaia Kalesono.

During his time as leader of the PWP, he began a shift to the centre-left, expelling figures in the extremes, but also made party unity and collaboration a focus of his leadership. He also began modernising the party structure, reforming the party's communication strategy, and adopting the party's current "Hammer of Progress" logo

He led the PWP in the 1999 general election campaign, and it was notable for its heavy usage of the internet, and he began an extensive tour of the country. His public relations reforms worked relatively well, as he managed to expand the party electorate from working-class families to urban professionals. He also very popular among the working-class due to his image as hard-working but approachable Javanese man. He later led the party to victory in the 1999 general elections, gaining a sweeping 110-seat majority.

Prime Minister (1999-2011)

Sasanta became Prime Minister in 9 June 1999, becoming the second Prime Minister to have been born after Uskadian independence. At his first speech as Prime Minister, Sasanta stated that Uskad must thrive in the new millennium, and Uskad has the opportunity to prosper. At his cabinet appointments, he increased the government ministries into 26 ministries and ensured that his cabinet was gender equal.

Domestic affairs

Sasanta's domestic policies were marked by a focus on social justice, reform and public services. His government launched large-scale infrastructure development, building transport, housing and energy infrastructure. Halim's economic policies helped fund Sasanta's projects, and these projects led sustained growth and low unemployment. Investments in healthcare, education and public services were also a major hallmark of his government.

A series of major welfare reforms implemented were the minimum wage, the expansion of healthcare, and workers' rights reforms. Significant labour protections were also passed during his tenure. These policies did increase living standards, but critics pointed out that inequality still persisted in the rural regions.

The government also passed landmark LGBTQ+ rights legislation, with Uskad becoming on of the first countries to legalise same-sex marriage. He also passed numerous significant transgender rights legislation. The environment was also a focus of Sasanta's government, though critics say his environmental policies led to rising public debt.

Personal life

Sasanta is married to Uskadian barrister Suni Jesnio. They have 3 children and together. His two brothers, Huni and Poli, are both lawyers. He is a Protestant, although he clarified that he is not religious and does not frequently attend church. He was alleged to be bisexual, as he reportedly dated a man during his time at the National University of Uskad, although he has denied this in various interviews.

He resides in Tehumyas, and is fluent in Javanese, Ueskadili, Malay, and English.

Honours

• Sasanta Cross (2011)
• Medal for Service to Uskad (2017)