JakartaPost-Sept 4, 2025
The recent waves of protests across Indonesia should serve as a “wake-up call” for President Prabowo Subianto’s fledgling administration, analysts warn, urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and tackle the root causes of public anger, including rising taxes, budget waste and growing economic inequality, to prevent future unrest. Indonesia experienced its most serious unrest in years after demonstrations against government spending priorities, particularly lavish perks for lawmakers, spiraled into deadly riots. In a Sunday press briefing, Prabowo acknowledged “the genuine aspirations of the public” and pledged to slash lawmakers’ allowances and impose a moratorium on expensive overseas trips. Yet, in the same remarks, he suggested the unrest may have been fueled by “treason” linked to “mafia” figures. Yose Rizal Damuri, executive director of the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says pointing to foreign actors only deflects attention from the real issues, stressing that the protests should serve as a wake-up call for Prabowo to urgently pursue comprehensive reforms that address the root causes of social and economic discontent. Yose said on Tuesday. “The protests were a culmination of months of economic and political frustration, driven largely by worsening economic burdens and a growing disconnect between political institutions and public aspirations,” Yose said on Tuesday. Noting the lack of clear acknowledgment from the President regarding the nation’s deteriorating economic conditions, Yose urged the government to adopt a strategy that addresses both short- and long-term challenges, restores “technocratic principles” and moves beyond political agendas to deliver practical and impactful solutions. Read more at:
