Young Indonesians Express Disappointment with Prabowo's Government
Source reports published 24 Oct 2026, 5:09 am – 10:00 am AEST
Public discontent is rising among young Indonesians who voted for Prabowo Subianto in 2024. Concerns include the free meals program, wildfire responses, economic performance, and unmet campaign promises, leading to feelings of complicity and disillusionment.
What happened
- Young Indonesians, including 32-year-old Desfa Priamanda, are expressing disappointment with President Prabowo Subianto's administration.
- Many who supported Prabowo in the 2024 election cite issues such as the government's controversial free school meals program, which has caused food poisoning among recipients, and the government's response to ongoing forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
- Protests have occurred in six cities, demanding the declaration of a national disaster.
- Additionally, concerns exist regarding the weakening rupiah currency and a proposed downgrade of Indonesia's market by MSCI.
- Some voters, like David Julian, initially supported Prabowo due to his perceived courage and charisma, but have since lost support due to unfulfilled campaign promises.
- The government has responded with cost-of-living measures and increased the national education budget, but these actions have not alleviated the concerns of young voters.
Original reporting
- ABC: Young Indonesians say they feel 'complicit' in voting for Prabowo
2026-10-23T19:09:26+00:00 - South China Morning Post: Big dreams, growing pains in Indonesia: Prabowo’s turbulent 2 years in power
2026-10-24T00:00:19+00:00