Days after being inaugurated as Indonesia’s eighth president, retired general Prabowo Subianto commenced his administration with a militaristic boot camp in the hills of Java. Dressed in olive-green army fatigues and combat boots, his new cabinet—comprising both bespectacled technocrats and former military officers—marched and stood in formation. This striking display in the world’s third-largest democracy, which less than two decades ago emerged from authoritarian rule, has raised eyebrows. Analysts suggest that this show of discipline and coordination masks the chaotic reality of Prabowo’s first 100 days in office, characterized by haphazard leadership, contradictions, and a lack of clear direction. “This is one of the most chaotic first 100 days I have seen,” remarked Yohanes Sulaiman from General Achmad Yani University in Bandung. “The government seems to be lacking in discipline, with most of the policies half-baked.”
Prabowo gained significant popularity by promising free meals for nearly 90 million school children and pregnant women, leading to a landslide election victory in February last year. However, his administration has faced a series of policy reversals on various issues, including pardons and contentious topics like China’s claims in the South China Sea. A last-minute change to a planned VAT policy just hours before its implementation exemplifies the muddled policymaking under Indonesia’s new leader.
Prabowo, who was dismissed from the military in 1998 amid allegations of human rights abuses—claims he has consistently denied—has remained a prominent figure in Indonesian politics. He founded the country’s third-largest political party and has run for the presidency three times. After successfully rebranding himself from a nationalistic general to a more approachable figure known for his dancing and affection for cats, Prabowo won the presidency in April last year with 58% of the vote and was inaugurated on October 20.
In a nation of 280 million, his campaign promise of free lunches for nearly 90 million school children and pregnant women garnered widespread support. In a cabinet address on January 22, he praised his government’s focus on the people, noting the successful rollout of the first phase of the free meals program. “We have been able to achieve a stable condition, filled with tranquility,” he stated, as reported by state news agency Antara. A January survey indicated that this populist policy has been well-received, granting him an 80.9% approval rating. However, academics, analysts, and foreign policy experts have expressed concerns regarding his performance in other areas, particularly his tacit acknowledgment of China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.