One Year of Prabowo–Gibran Leadership: National Stability Maintained, Democracy Remains Strong
Jakarta – As President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka complete their first year in office, the national situation reflects a stable trajectory with tangible progress in the political, economic, and defense sectors. The government is seen as having successfully maintained balance amid global challenges and domestic social dynamics.
Khairul Fahmi, Co-Founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), views the administration’s achievements over the past year not merely as crisis management successes, but as proof of its ability to keep public dialogue alive and open.
“The government has demonstrated adaptability by quickly and responsively adjusting its policies. This is crucial to ensure that social and political dynamics do not escalate into prolonged conflict,” Fahmi said in an interview with a private radio station in Jakarta.
He cited the government’s handling of the late-August social unrest as a clear example of how the state responded with open communication and dialogue, helping to defuse tensions before they turned into broader conflict.
According to him, such actions show the government’s commitment to keeping democratic channels functional, allowing citizens to voice their concerns without resorting to extreme measures.
Fahmi added that this openness is also key to preventing the public from turning to digital spaces that are prone to disinformation and polarization. “Public expression channels must be maintained so they’re not replaced by digital spaces rife with misinformation,” he emphasized.
Beyond socio-political stability, Fahmi highlighted strategic progress in the defense sector, where President Prabowo has shown strong determination to build domestic defense industry capabilities. The government continues to strengthen strategic state-owned enterprises such as PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT Pindad, and PT INKA to reduce dependency on imported primary defense systems (alutsista).
“The path toward defense self-reliance is not instant. However, foreign weapons purchases are being used as opportunities for technological learning and diplomatic strengthening,” he explained.
Fahmi also addressed challenges in the digital space, now a major arena for public opinion mobilization. He noted that social media algorithms often intensify emotions and deepen polarization.
“There’s a lot of disinformation and hate speech that can stir unrest. The government must respond swiftly with official clarifications and active coordination with digital platforms,” he said.
He stressed the importance of digital literacy so that the public can critically evaluate the information they encounter.
In his evaluation of the Prabowo–Gibran administration’s first-year performance, Fahmi gave a fairly high rating.
He acknowledged that pro-people programs are yielding positive results, but also pointed out the need for stronger public communication so the population can better understand the government’s policy direction.
“The establishment of the Government Communication Agency (BKP) is a smart move to reinforce the national communication strategy,” he added.
Fahmi also noted improvements in government oversight, with many irregularities uncovered over the past year.
“Consistent oversight is key to ensuring clean and transparent governance,” he said.
He offered an analogy to describe Prabowo’s leadership: “The President is like the pilot, the ministers are the cabin crew, and the people are the passengers. The government must ensure that everyone feels safe, comfortable, and optimistic about the nation’s shared destination,” he concluded.
With these accomplishments, the Prabowo–Gibran administration’s first year has marked a constructive course of national reform—maintaining stability, strengthening defense self-sufficiency, and ensuring that democracy remains open and participatory for all Indonesians.
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