Jokowi’s focus on building infrastructure and distributing social aid has earned him consistently high approval ratings throughout his presidency, with a rating of more than 70 percent earlier this year. But the outgoing leader suffered a major blow last month when waves of demonstrations managed to block an attempt in the legislature to alter candidate age requirements in a manner that would have allowed his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, to run for regional office in November.

People took to the streets to protest the plan, formed by lawmakers allied with Jokowi and president-elect Prabowo Subianto, to revise the Regional Elections Law to circumvent two Constitutional Court rulings: one that upheld the prevailing candidate age rules that barred Kaesang from running and another that made more parties eligible to nominate regional candidates, whether alone or in smaller alliances.

Observers said the failed attempt to change the election rules represented a significant setback for Jokowi, who, despite his popularity, could not stand against the will of the people.

“Jokowi may have been able to execute his various plans quite smoothly in the past, but there are limits to what he can do, no matter how much influence he wields,” political analyst Yoes Kenawas said.

Kaesang’s absence from the November regional elections indicates that Jokowi, who in the past was able to ensure the passage of nearly any legislation he wished, is now seeing his influence decline, as none of the eight parties in his ruling coalition appear to be under his command any longer.

After Prabowo won February’s presidential election – aided by Jokowi’s tacit backing, popularity and huge political sway after a decade in charge – pro-Jokowi parties declared their support for the incoming president, allowing Prabowo to secure a majority in the legislature.