Indonesian President Prabowo's approval rating slips to 44.5%

what happened

The approval rating of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dropped to 44.5% just ahead of his second anniversary in office, according to a poll released on Friday. The figure marks a continued slide in public support.

Surveys by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) show approval at 81.2% in November, 66.4% in March and 51.1% in July. The October 1-10 survey covered 1,213 respondents and carries an estimated margin of error of +/- 2.9%.

SMRC executive director Deni Irvani linked the decline to dissatisfaction with economic and political conditions, law enforcement, and the rollout of the free meals and village cooperatives programmes. Half of respondents, 50.8%, described economic conditions as bad, and 43.1% said they had worsened compared with last year. High staple food prices were the most cited problem, followed by corruption and poverty.

why it matters

For markets, the key question is whether political backing for the government holds up during a period of economic strain. Persistent frustration over prices and flagship spending programmes could complicate policy execution and weigh on sentiment toward the rupiah and Indonesian equities. The free meals scheme, which has been linked to food poisoning affecting more than 50,000 people, adds another layer of uncertainty.

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