Indonesian Students Protest Budget Cuts and Austerity Measures

Nationwide demonstrations highlight fears over education funding, austerity policies, and future opportunities under President Prabowo Subianto.

Thousands of students across Indonesia, including in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, are protesting President Prabowo Subianto's budget cuts and austerity measures implemented four months into his presidency.
'Dark Indonesia,' a viral movement on social media, symbolizes concerns over education funding reductions and other policies perceived as harmful to social support systems.
Protesters criticize the reallocation of education funds to support a costly free school meal program, which has faced implementation challenges and uneven distribution across the country.
Demonstrators are also opposing the military's involvement in civilian roles, cuts to subsidized cooking gas, and broader austerity measures affecting civil servants and public services.
Despite the protests, Prabowo maintains a high approval rating near 80%, though analysts highlight fiscal strain from inherited debt and controversial policies like the new capital city project.