Beyond the turmoil in the streets and the tremors in the markets, the crisis has revived debate over former president Joko Widodo’s enduring influence inside Indonesia’s power structures. Many of President Prabowo’s critics argue that his administration remains heavily populated by Jokowi’s allies — from the executive to the judiciary.
Jokowi’s ability to secure his son’s rise to the vice presidency, as well as family ties in the Constitutional Court, has fueled perceptions that he continues to shape the country’s direction despite stepping down. The court’s recent controversial decisions have only strengthened suspicions that Jokowi’s circle retains outsized sway.
Against this backdrop, pressure is growing on Prabowo to assert his authority more boldly. Supporters argue that to stabilize Indonesia, he must “clean house” by distancing his leadership from Jokowi’s entrenched networks in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The challenge for Prabowo is whether he can do so without deepening political fractures — or whether Jokowi’s shadow will remain a defining feature of Indonesian politics.
The Big Picture
For now, Indonesia stands at a crossroads. The rupiah’s weakness, investor jitters, and deepening street anger are symptoms of a larger question: can Prabowo consolidate authority in a government still shaped by Jokowi’s legacy?
How he answers that question may determine not only the trajectory of his presidency — but the stability of Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
