Political Tension in Indonesia Over Free Meals Program
Coalition partners of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are distancing themselves from the controversial free meals program due to mass food poisoning incidents and corruption allegations.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's coalition, which holds an 80 percent majority in parliament, is experiencing internal tension due to its electoral promise of free school meals. While mass food poisoning cases affecting at least 57,000 people since its inception in January 2025 and corruption allegations overshadow the project, coalition partners are concerned that electoral expectations are being damaged.
According to Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) polling data, the president's public approval rating dropped from 81 percent in November 2025 to 44.5 percent in October 2026, with 62 percent of the public opposing the meal program. While the National Nutrition Agency (NNA) is carrying out improvement efforts, the government has allocated a budget of 240 trillion rupiah for this plan next year.
While Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka apologized to the public due to food poisoning cases, President Prabowo acknowledged the need for efficiency while defending the overall success of the program.
Sources
- usnews.com · Link