Hasto Responds to Decline in Public Satisfaction with Government

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Hasto Kristiyanto has spoken out about the decline in public satisfaction with the performance of President Prabowo Subianto’s government. According to the latest survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), public satisfaction with the government’s performance fell from 81.2 per cent in November 2025 to 51.1 per cent in July 2026.

According to Hasto, the survey captures the discontent of the middle class with the political, social and economic conditions that have caused downward mobility, pushing them into poverty. He warned that ignoring the aspirations of the middle class could create new problems, as explained by the phenomenon known as the Chilean Paradox.

The Chilean Paradox is a term describing a contradictory situation in which a country appears successful in economic statistics while at the same time experiencing social turmoil and public dissatisfaction.

“The decline of middle-class people living in poverty is very dangerous, because if their critical views are not responded to with the right policies, it could create social and political risks. That is not what we want,” said Hasto at the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board office in Jakarta on 26 July 2026.

According to him, responsibility for improving domestic conditions lies not only with the government but with all elements of society. That way, interventions in political and economic problems can be carried out quickly and accurately.

“So everyone should work hard for the nation and the state, both within government and outside it. Everyone sees the political and economic problems, the problems of the real sector — these require very swift action and require our unity,” said the former member of the House of Representatives.

In addition, Hasto also commented on the SMRC research findings. He believes that survey data collection needs to combine quantitative and qualitative methods in order to truly capture the views of the grassroots.

SMRC Executive Director Deni Irvani said the decline in public satisfaction is closely linked to deteriorating positive sentiment towards the economic, political and law enforcement conditions as of July 2026. “Over the last 9 months, those who feel very or fairly satisfied with President Prabowo’s performance fell from 81.2 per cent in November 2025 to 51.1 per cent in the latest survey in July 2026,” Deni said in a written statement on Sunday.

Over the same period, public dissatisfaction with the President rose from 16 per cent to 46.9 per cent. However, the survey did not set out the causes of the rising public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.

SMRC conducted the poll among 749 people selected at random between 5 and 19 July 2026. The survey population for this edition, titled “Economic and Political Conditions and the President’s Approval Rating”, comprised Indonesian citizens eligible to vote in general elections. The survey has a margin of error of 3.7 per cent and a confidence level of 95 per cent.