Prabowo’s popularity slides in Indonesia amid economic anxiety, policy concerns

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's approval rating in Indonesia has been slipping, according to a recent poll conducted by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC). The latest survey shows Prabowo's approval rating at 51.1%, a significant drop from 66.4% in March and 81.2% in November. Concerns over household finances and doubts about the government's ability to deliver on its promises have contributed to the decline in his popularity.

SMRC's executive director, Deni Irvani, attributes the drop in public satisfaction to a disconnect between Indonesia's economic growth and how voters experience the economy, with worries about prices, jobs, and purchasing power fueling doubts about Prabowo's policy priorities. The survey polled 749 respondents between July 5 and 19.

If an election were held today, Prabowo would trail West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, with only 14.5% of respondents saying they would vote for him compared to 35% for Dedi. One of Prabowo's flagship initiatives, a US$12.7 billion free nutritious meals programme for over 82 million students, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, has been a source of dissatisfaction, with more than 61% of respondents dissatisfied with its organization.

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the education budget cannot fund school meals starting in 2028. Nearly half of respondents view the economy as "bad," 42.8% view the political climate negatively, and 38% say law enforcement under Prabowo's leadership is poor. Despite tensions, the government remains confident that its programmes will benefit the people, and the administration is conducting evaluations to improve public opinion.