Popularity of Indonesian president sinks due to price rises

Robert Besser
19 May 2022, 15:10 GMT+10

A new poll released this week indicated that Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approval rating has hit a six-year low
This comes amidst dissatisfaction over soaring cooking oil prices and the perceived failure of an export ban to swiftly reduce the rising cost of goods
The figures from the survey released by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia and conducted from 5th to 10th May, showed that this May, satisfaction with Widodo, also known as Jokowi, fell to 58.1 percent

JAKARTA, Indonesia: A new poll released this week indicated that Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approval rating has hit a six-year low, amidst dissatisfaction over soaring cooking oil prices and the perceived failure of an export ban to swiftly reduce the rising cost of goods.

The figures from the survey released by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia and conducted from 5th to 10th May, showed that this May, satisfaction with Widodo, also known as Jokowi, fell to 58.1 percent, the lowest rating since December 2015 when his approval dropped to 53 percent.

Following a 12-point drop from January to April this year, his decline in ratings comes as Southeast Asia's largest economy has struggled to control domestic cooking oil prices, and after last month's decision to ban the exporting of palm oil, of which Indonesia is the world's largest producer.

The Indikator survey confirmed the decline in Jokowi's approval rating was mainly due to the rising cost of cooking oil and continuing inflationary effects, and after the export ban failed to see prices drop significantly.

The poll, which surveyed 1,200 people, found that while some 90 percent supported the export ban, more than 72 percent said cooking oil prices remain high.

According to Chief Economics Minister Airlangga Hartarto, the export ban would stay in place until bulk cooking oil prices drop to 14,000 rupiah per liter around the country.

As of last week, trade ministry data showed bulk cooking oil was being sold at 16,600 rupiah per liter.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Los Angeles Herald.

More Information

77 ℉

Fair in Los Angeles/Usc

International

Section

UK's Telegraph news block in Russia due to war coverage

MOSCOW, Russia: The UK newspaper, the Telegraph, has been blocked in Russia, following a request from the Russian prosecutor-general.The TASS ...

Airbus captain tries to land at Lahore runway closed two years ago

LAHORE, Pakistan - An Airbus 320 carrying 171 passengers narrowly avoided an accident at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pakistan's second-largest ...

Biden vows to combat effects of Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to "do all in my power" to protect a woman's ...

Myanmar junta minister discusses nuclear cooperation with Russia

YANGON, Myanmar - According to military-run media, a junta delegation discussed nuclear technology collaboration with a Russian state-owned atomic energy ...

U.S. to provide Tk2.3 crore as emergency funding for northern Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than Tk2.3 crore in emergency funding ...

661 pound freshwater fish caught in Cambodia river

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian villagers on the Mekong River have caught a stingray fish weighing 661 pounds, which is the ...

California

Section