Analysis: Prabowo’s approval rating 51 percent and falling
For most of his first two years in office, President Prabowo Subianto enjoyed a honeymoon that simply refused to end. Survey after survey showed him with approval numbers most world leaders can only dream of. That period has now ended. It was a long and genuinely good run, but the latest data from Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) confirm that political reality has caught up with him.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's approval rating has fallen to 51 percent, according to the latest survey from Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC). This downward trend marks a significant shift from the honeymoon period he enjoyed following his 2024 election victory. During that time, his approval rating hovered between 70-80 percent, surpassing even his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's peak rating of 81.7 percent in May 2023.
In contrast, Jokowi's first term began at a similar approval level of 62 percent but rapidly declined to 41 percent after a fuel price hike. Compared to recent American presidents, Prabowo's approval plateau is exceptional, with Trump's second term starting at 47 percent and Obama/Biden experiencing declines from their highs. SMRC's July 2026 survey, which polled 749 respondents, revealed that 51.1 percent of Indonesians were satisfied with Prabowo's performance, while 46.9 percent expressed dissatisfaction.
The drop in approval can be attributed to growing public concerns over three key issues: the weakening rupiah, sluggish stock market, and doubts about state spending and central bank independence. SMRC executive director Deni Irvani noted these factors as the primary drivers behind the decline in Prabowo's popularity.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
