JakartaGlobe-July 29
A recent survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) shows President Prabowo Subianto’s public approval rating has fallen sharply, but government officials argue that public opinion is dynamic despite worsening perceptions of the economy, politics and law enforcement. The latest nationwide SMRC survey, conducted from July 5 to July 19 among 749 respondents, found Prabowo’s approval rating fell to 51.1% in July 2026 from 81.2% in November 2025. The survey has a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of approximately 3.7%. The decline coincided with deteriorating public sentiment across several key areas. Positive assessments of Indonesia’s economic conditions dropped to 15.7% from 40% over the same period, while positive views of the political situation fell to 13.5% from 35.8%. Approval of law enforcement also declined to 26.4% from 42.5%. Only 15.7% of respondents described the country’s economic conditions as very good, while 33.9% viewed them as moderate. Meanwhile, 37.9% said the economy was in poor condition and 11.5% rated it as very poor. “The findings indicate that public perceptions broadly confirm concerns previously raised by a number of economists,” Deni said. The survey also found that a majority of respondents viewed Indonesia’s political situation as poor or very poor. About 33.6% described it as moderate, while only 13.5% considered political conditions to be good. Muhammad Qodari, head of the Presidential Communication Office (Bakom), said survey findings should be viewed as a snapshot of public opinion that can change over time. Qodari said the government respects the survey results and would use them as input for policy evaluation. However, he said they should also be compared with findings from other research institutions to provide a more comprehensive picture of public sentiment.
He argued that Indonesia’s economic fundamentals remain strong, citing 5.6% economic growth in the first quarter of 2026 and annual inflation of 3.34%. “From an economic standpoint, the indicators are good. Economic growth is above 5%, inflation is under control, and household savings continue to grow,” he said. “Politically, the government remains stable because a broad coalition supports all of the president’s programs.”
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