Poll shows Indonesia president's approval rating falls after protests, but still popular

Poll shows Indonesia president's approval rating falls after protests, but still popular

By Ananda Teresia

Outgoing Indonesia President Joko Widodo's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level this year after a move by his allies to change election rules, a poll showed on Friday, although he remains more popular than during most of his 10-year presidency.

The survey of 1,200 people conducted late last month by Indikator Politik Indonesia showed approval of the president fell by 7 percentage points to 75%, down from the an all-time high of 82% in its July poll.

Jokowi, as the president is known, had an average rating of 66% in his first term and 71% in his second term, according to Indikator's chief researcher Burhanuddin Muhtadi. His rating was 79% and 80% in January and February polls respectively.

Burhanuddin attributed the fall to public disatisfaction over an aborted attempt in August by legislators allied with Jokowi to change a minimum age requirement for regional elections, which would have enabled his youngest son to run for a provincial deputy governor post.

Lawmakers abandoned the plan after heated protests in several cities, which included demonstrators storming the gates of the national parliament before being driven back by riot police using water cannon.

Jokowi will on Oct. 20 make way for former rival and current defence minister, Prabowo Subianto, to take over as president after his victory in February's election, which was helped by Jokowi's tacit backing.

Jokowi has served the maximum two terms allowed and his implied endorsement of Prabowo was widely seen as a move to maintain influence and preserve his legacy.

It is unclear what future role, if any, Jokowi might play.

His overall rating remained high because a majority of Indonesians still perceived economic conditions under his administration to be relatively good, Burhanuddin added, including its managing of inflation.

His government has also offered many incentives to the public, he added.

Burhanuddin said that although there was dissatisfaction about the state of the country's democracy, a majority of Indonesians understood democracy "in a simple way".

"As long as the economic conditions are good, people will be satisfied with the president," he said.