Prabowo Subianto Approval Rating Drops Below 50 Percent
President Prabowo Subianto's approval rating fell to 44.5 percent amid economic hardship, program failures, and the government's handling of Kalimantan wildfires.
The approval rating for Prabowo Subianto has fallen to 44.5 percent, marking the first time the Indonesian president's support has dropped below 50 percent since he took office in October 2024. According to a survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting conducted in early October 2026, this represents a sharp decline from 81.2 percent in November 2025 and 51.1 percent in July 2026. This is the lowest approval level for an Indonesian president since the 1998 reform movement.
Public dissatisfaction is driven by a worsening economy, with 50.8 percent of respondents describing the national economy as bad or very bad. Citizens have cited the rising cost of necessities and failures in flagship initiatives, such as the Red and White Cooperatives and the free nutritious meal program. The meal program has been specifically plagued by graft scandals, budget scrutiny, and reports of food poisoning.
Governance issues have further eroded support, including rampant corruption and the administration's refusal to declare prolonged wildfires in Kalimantan a national disaster despite nearly 300,000 cases of acute respiratory infections. In response to these challenges, Prabowo has conducted serial cabinet reshuffles to install loyalists, including the July appointment of Gerindra Party politician Sudaryono to lead the National Nutrition Agency.
