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Jokowi could run into trouble once he leaves office
Many will confidently say Jokowi and the first family are clean of corruption. But what about collusion and nepotism?
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) accepts a slice of rice cone from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during the opening of the party’s national executive meeting in Jakarta, on June 21, 2022. (Courtesy of/Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat)
When he ends his term in October of next year, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may have to prepare himself for a totally different situation from what he has carefully choreographed.
The President was widely tipped as a kingmaker who could select his successor and later take over the chief post of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) from current matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Many people, too, hoped they would remember him as a humble but high-achieving president who catapulted the nation to the ranks of high-income countries. His public approval rating, which exceeds 70 percent, could be a strong magnet for the nation’s 204 million registered voters, 102 million of whom are women.
Such expectations, however, are quickly fading now. It will be challenging for the President to control the damage he has done. As the Indonesian proverb goes, Karena setitik nila rusak susu sebelanga (a drop of dye ruins the whole pot of milk).
Many credible pollsters believe Jokowi will not be a lame-duck leader in the last year of his presidency, and he is often thought to be at a level far beyond all political parties. But these days, we can see how the PDI-P has begun to bully Jokowi for what the party believes is an unforgivable betrayal. And the attacks will mount and may become more brutal.
A recent survey by Kompas found that more than 60 percent of respondents believed the President was building his own political dynasty through his two sons and son-in-law. His repeated denials cannot convince the public otherwise, because his moves are so blatant.
Many of his die-hard supporters have now lowered their expectations of Jokowi. They greatly appreciate what the President has done for the country over the last nine years, but that does not mean that they will accept his favored presidential candidate.
