Political and populist moves make for an assertive first year under Prabowo

But Indonesia's democratic checks and balances have weakened: Analysts

- Arlina Arshad

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. Mr Prabowo reaffirmed support for Palestinian statehood while offering a conditional security guarantee to Israel. He has also signalled willingness to send troops for peacekeeping in Gaza. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

JAKARTA - One year into office, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has delivered stability on the political front by uniting diverse groups and launched populist programmes that have benefited the common folk, but at a steep cost.

While Mr Prabowo has achieved a degree of political stability by bringing most major parties into his governing coalition, observers say that weakening democratic checks and balances, alongside challenges in governance and the economy, show that lasting progress will require more than mere authority.

In provincial cities, thousands jostle at job fairs, desperate for work. In the halls of power, elite politicians strike deals behind closed doors. Yet beneath the calm surface, tensions simmer, and Indonesia's democracy faces a quiet but persistent test.

The nationwide protests in late August remain vivid in public memory. On the streets of Jakarta, students chanted through clouds of tear gas, waving One Piece anime pirate flags symbolising resistance. Demonstrators across the country were enraged by a proposed 50 million rupiah (S$3,900) hike in housing allowance and other perks for lawmakers.

Overall, analysts say Mr Prabowo's first year has been defined by strong control, populist ambition and diminishing accountability with some programmes delivering tangible benefits.

The 74-year-old former special forces commander entered office on Oct 20, 2024 with unprecedented political power, backed by his popular predecessor Joko Widodo, whose son Gibran Rakabuming Raka serves as vice-president.