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Prolonged lockdown erodes Jokowi’s popularity
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s approval rating has dropped to below 60 percent as public discontent grows over the prolonged social-restrictions policy he has implemented to contain the deadly Delta-induced second wave of COVID-19 in June.
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President Joko "Jokowi" WIdodo briefs his aides in a meeting evaluating the level 4 public activity restrictions (PPKM) on Aug. 7, 2021. (Courtesy of Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/-)
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resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s approval rating has dropped to below 60 percent as public discontent grows over the prolonged social-restrictions policy he has implemented to contain the deadly Delta-induced second wave of COVID-19 in June.
While a majority of the people still approve of Jokowi’s performance, including how he has handled the pandemic, analysts say the President could risk a further decline in popularity should he fail to ease the social restrictions and reopen the economy.
The President was now caught in a Catch-22 situation, said Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi. “If the social restrictions continue, they will chip away at the President’s approval rating. But if there were no restrictions at all, there would be more casualties from this pandemic,” the political analyst said.
Jokowi’s popularity has continued on a downward trend since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, when his approval rating was above 70 percent. His popularity now stands at 59.3 percent, down from 64 percent in April 2021, according to an Indikator survey conducted at the height of the second wave between July 30 and Aug. 4.
The public’s waning approval of the President came amid allegations that Jokowi was seeking to extend his term through a constitutional amendment, as well as a potential fracturing of his ruling coalition as parties gear up for the 2024 general elections.
Read also: Govt under increasing pressure to control pandemic
The President has denied the allegations, even though the proposal to amend the constitutional provision on the presidential term, which is currently capped at two five-year terms, has not been conclusively shut down. And in a major move to consolidate his power, Jokowi has added the National Mandate Party (PAN) to his ruling coalition so it now controls more than 80 percent of the House of Representatives.
