Government Seen as Unresponsive, Anies: Extravagance at the Top, Belt-Tightening at the Bottom

Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has criticised the government for what he sees as a lack of sensitivity to the current economic conditions. He said there is no example of leadership in difficult times: ‘There is no leadership on display, at a moment when the people are told to tighten their belts, the government is busy with matters that are not priorities,’ Anies said in a video on his Instagram account @aniesbaswedan, posted on Wednesday (20 May 2026).

‘S waste at the top, tightening at the bottom. This looks like insensitivity, even though warnings have come from all sides,’ he added.

Not only that, national and international media have reported the same regarding the current economic situation.

“It’s unlikely they are all wrong together at the same time. What is at stake is the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, so this situation must be treated with due seriousness,” he said.

In these conditions, what the public and the market need is certainty, not false calm or problems glossed over with sweeteners, he added. Anies also emphasised that the country’s state is not all right.

“The rupiah has fallen to its weakest level in history, prices have risen, job opportunities have narrowed, household purchasing power has weakened and savings have been eroded, and this affects the livelihoods of many people,” he said.

He also said the challenges ahead are long. Geopolitical tensions are heating up, with a looming conflict in the Middle East.

“And scientists warn that the strongest El Niño on record is already in sight. A single heavy test would be tough enough; when several come at once, its weight multiplies,” he said.

“Like it or not, difficult times lie ahead. Economic pressure has not eased, extreme weather will arrive and strike, and the world beyond is in turmoil,” he said.

Anies did not urge pessimism; he asked that the public can remain optimistic about overcoming the heavy challenges, provided they are faced with open eyes and without illusory promises.

“We can certainly do it, but there is one condition: seriousness. Let us take seriously the task of governing this nation. Thank you,” he concluded.