Outgoing 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, 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 seven 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 dissatisfaction 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 cannons.
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’s 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.
“As long as the economic conditions are good, people will be satisfied with the president,” he said. — Reuters
