Indonesia Country Focus Report

President Prabowo Subianto's administration is characterised by an unprecedented consolidation of political power. The inclusion of most major political parties in the governing coalition has substantially diminished effective political opposition, thereby weakening democratic oversight and institutional checks on executive authority. Concurrently, the expanded involvement of military actors in civilianaffairs, the appointment of politically connected individuals to strategic positions, and the erosion of merit-based recruitment have reinforced perceptions of centralisation of power and patronage-driven governance.

During 2025–2026, Indonesia experienced repeated waves of public protest in response to contentious legislation, governance reforms, and socioeconomic grievances. These mobilisations signalled escalating public frustration not only with specific policies but also with declining transparency, limited accountability, and reduced opportunities for meaningful participation in public decision-making. State responses to dissent increasingly included intimidation, criminalisation, excessive use of force, surveillance, online harassment, and efforts to delegitimise critics as threats to stability, development, or national interests. These challenges have been compounded by rising economic uncertainty, as the rupiah declined by more than seven percent and became one of Asia's worst-performing currencies in 2026.

Recent trends indicate that the environment for civil society in Indonesia has also become increasingly constrained. V-Dem data reveal that both the Core Civil Society Index (CCSI) and the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI) declined to their lowest levels since 2000 in 2025. Although Indonesia achieved significant democratic progress following the 1998 Reformasi period, the persistent decline since the mid-2010s reflects mounting restrictions on civic space and weakened mechanisms for democratic accountability. The concurrent deterioration of both indices underscores broader concerns about democratic backsliding, including reduced civil society autonomy, diminished civic participation, and heightened challenges to political freedoms, electoral competitiveness, and independent public scrutiny.

These developments are particularly significant given the long-standing role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Indonesia's democratic and developmental trajectory. CSOs have served as key actors in promoting accountability, transparency, civic participation, and policy reform, as well as advancing peacebuilding, gender equality, environmental protection, climate action, indigenous rights, the inclusion of marginalised groups, and a broad spectrum of social, economic, and governance issues.

This Country Focus Report evaluates the state of civic space in Indonesia from May 2025 to May 2026 using the six dimensions of the Civil Society Enabling Environment Framework. The findings reveal a widening gap between constitutional guarantees and the lived experiences of civil society actors and citizens. In the absence of substantive reforms to safeguard civic space, Indonesia risks further democratic backsliding and a gradual reversion to authoritarian governance.