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All eyes on Prabowo’s next steps after Jokowi’s deft balancing act
The 2023 energy export deal with Singapore reflects a governance style marked by an assertive executive and regulatory flexibility. Question is, can Indonesia maintain a balance between authoritarian pragmatism and the demands of a modern, competitive economy?
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo's (right) model of governance is likely to continue under Mr Prabowo Subianto's leadership, says the writer.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Leonard C. Sebastian and Januar Aditya Pratama
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As Indonesia gets ready to transition from Mr Joko Widodo’s decade-long presidency to Mr Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, the narrative among some observers of “democratic backsliding” fails to fully capture the complexities of the country’s governance model.
While these critics decry President Widodo’s “authoritarian turn”, such analyses often miss the mark in understanding the driving forces behind Indonesia’s current political and economic dynamics.
