IPO Survey Signals Positive Public Perception of Energy Minister Bahlil's Performance

Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Golkar Party, Prof. Dr. Eric Hermawan, has described the results of an Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) survey as a positive signal for public trust in the government. The survey, which placed Golkar Party Chairman and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia in the top three ministers for best performance perception, was conducted from 27 July to 3 August 2026 among 1,200 respondents using a stratified multistage random sampling method, with a margin of error of ±2.9% at a 95% confidence level. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa topped the list with a 42.8% positive rating, followed by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya at 33.5% and Bahlil Lahadalia at 32.0%.

Eric found Bahlil’s position particularly interesting as he ranked above several other ministers with strategic roles, including Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman at 30.9% and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono at 25.3%. He argued that Bahlil, trailing Teddy by only 1.5 percentage points, demonstrated strong political resilience, especially given his oversight of highly sensitive sectors under intense public scrutiny, such as energy, mining, investment, and downstreaming. “Pak Bahlil obtained 32%, just 1.5 points behind Pak Teddy. This shows that the public perception of his performance remains strong amidst the high level of attention on the sectors he manages,” Eric stated in a press release received on Monday (10/8).

Eric highlighted a particularly compelling figure: Bahlil’s popularity rating of 32.8% is almost identical to his positive performance rating of 32.0%. “Roughly speaking, the closeness between the popularity figure and the positive assessment is a very interesting signal. It means the positive perception of Pak Bahlil’s performance is nearly as high as the public’s recognition of him,” he explained. Eric assessed that this condition could serve as positive capital for Bahlil while simultaneously strengthening the image of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. He noted that when a figure in a strategic sector like energy and downstreaming receives a positive perception, it can help build public trust in the government’s agenda, particularly in driving investment, energy security, natural resource management, and value addition through downstreaming.

“This is not just about Pak Bahlil personally. A positive perception of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister’s performance can also generate positive sentiment towards the ministry he leads, the Golkar Party, and President Prabowo’s government agenda,” Eric stated. He added that the latest survey results should also be viewed in the context of Bahlil’s previously established public recognition. In an IPO survey from October 2025, Bahlil recorded a popularity rating of 38.3%, making him one of the most recognisable figures in the cabinet. According to Eric, this shows that Bahlil has relatively strong public exposure, so the next challenge is not merely maintaining popularity but converting it into concrete policy achievements that the public can feel. “Because the sectors handled by Pak Bahlil are pro-growth but also subject to high scrutiny, this 32% figure must be read as both capital and a challenge. Energy, mining, investment, and downstreaming policies must be able to generate economic growth while also addressing issues of governance, investment certainty, state revenue, the environment, and benefits for the community. Therefore, the positive perception reflected in the survey must be followed by measurable results,” Eric stressed. He expressed hope that the IPO survey results would motivate Bahlil and the entire Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to further improve performance over the next six to twelve months.