Even for a less ambitious administration, with more modest ambitions like the mundane business of creating 5 percent economic growth, building infrastructure and stamping out graft, a year in office is only a first step in a steep climb.

 

There is the work of consolidating newfound power and especially in a quasi-parliamentary democracy like Indonesia, cobbling together a coalition of political parties at the House of Representatives was always the most difficult part.

 

It took then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo almost two years to secure support from the majority of political factions in the House before he could ram through some of his signature policies of building infrastructure and other kinds of reform.

 

In some extreme cases, former presidents did not last two years for failing to win support from politicians in the legislative branches of the government.

 

President Prabowo Subianto is not one who is not ambitious.

 

While past presidents were content with delivering modest economic growth coupled with populist programs, President Prabowo pledges to create a growth rate of 8 percent by his fourth year in office while at the same time delivering colossal welfare programs, from feeding 80 million students per year with free nutritious meals to building 3 million houses per year for the poor.

 

Another major initiative of Prabowo’s presidency is his plan for the state to have a major stake in the economy, which he executed through the formation of state asset fund Danantara as well as a systematic campaign to seize assets from private business.

 

Also, if past presidents were content with having to focus on the domestic front while occasionally inserting themselves into international relations, President Prabowo decided early on that he would dive straight into global affairs, from joining BRICS to joining peace initiatives in the Middle East.

 

Under the best of circumstances, accomplishing those gargantuan tasks would require discipline, meticulousness and careful planning.

 

But if hiccups, setbacks and public discontent in the past year can be any indication, we know that there is still much to be desired from how the Prabowo administration governs.

 

First and foremost, the August protests, which ended up with riots in some of Indonesia’s major cities, are a clear indication that President Prabowo still has work cut out for him when it comes to consolidating his power.

 

A major unrest happening only 10 months after a new, popular president is elected is not a show of confidence.

 

His unwillingness, or inability, in the wake of the unrest, to enact a reform of the National Police, which could start with replacing incumbent police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, is more proof that President Prabowo still has work to do when it comes to consolidating his power.

 

Then, there is the major headache from the free meal program which so far has been dogged by bureaucratic inertia, intra-organization conflict and a lack of professionalism which has led the program to be plagued with frequent cases of poisoning, delays in implementation and the high likelihood of the initiative failing to reach 80 million recipients this year.

 

The only bright spot so far for Prabowo is his foray into the international stage. His 10 months of jet-setting and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Xi, Trump and Putin have tremendously improved Indonesia’s standing in the world. (A side note: if an American comedian jokes about you, then you are world famous).

 

It is too soon to discern if the Prabowo administration is a success or a dud only after one year in office. The President still has a long way to go.