Indonesian president's popularity drops

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

Jakarta - The popularity of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has dropped, partly owing to controversy over a bank bail-out and perceived back-pedaling in fighting corruption, according to a new poll released Wednesday. A nationwide survey of 2,900 people conducted this month found that Yudhoyono still enjoyed good ratings from a substantial majority of Indonesians but his approval ratings had fallen to 70 per cent from 85 per cent in July, the Indonesian Survey Institute said.

The pollster attributed the drop to respondents' unhappiness with the president's performance in areas such as law enforcement and the economy.

An ongoing tussle over the government's decision to bail out a failing small bank in 2008 and Yudhoyono's perceived waning commitment to fighting corruption has contributed to the decline, it said.

Parliament has launched an inquiry into the bailout of Bank Century amid accusations by critics that the rescue was meant to save the money of people close to Yudhoyono.

Critics have suggested that some of the money was used to bankroll the president's re-election campaign last year.

Yudhoyono won a second five-year term on promises to fight graft and boost the economy.

He denied the allegations over the bank bail-out, saying it was meant to prevent a crisis in the banking system.

Yudhoyono's popularity was also hit by a scandal in which police and prosecutors allegedly framed two deputies of the Corruption Eradication Commission in what appeared to be a high-level conspiracy to weaken the graft-busting agency.

Corruption charges against the two deputies were dropped late last year at Yudhoyono's request following intense public pressure.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/306075,indonesian-presidents-popularity-drops.html.