Big dreams, growing pains in Indonesia: Prabowo’s turbulent 2 years in power

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A profile of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s first two years in office describes public disappointment amid rising food prices and doubts about his promise of stability. Residents who supported him hoped for affordable essentials and greater predictability, but the article points to mounting economic pressures.

When 35-year-old Bekasi resident Ika Kartika voted for Prabowo Subianto in Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election, she hoped the former general would restore a “Suharto-like” era of stability, when everyday essentials were affordable and life felt more predictable. Growing up, she had often heard her parents reminisce about the “good old days” under the late strongman, whose rule had brought a sense of order to their lives. Two years into his presidency, however, rising food prices have left Ika...