Jokowi-Ma’ruf Administration's First Year Marred by Protests, a Recession, and a Pandemic

KOMPAS.com – The Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration marked its first year in office, which has been riddled with protests, an economic recession, and an ongoing first wave of coronavirus infections.

On October 20, 2019, Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin officially took their position as Indonesian President and Indonesian Vice-President for the 2019–2024 term.

One year on, the Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration has instead been met with mass demonstrations rather than fireworks.

Thousands of people flooded streets across Indonesia in their dismay and opposition to the recently approved Jobs Law.

Read also: Students, Workers Stage Protest Anew over Indonesia's Jobs Law

Weeks-long nationwide protests in the country are the demonstrators’ way of defying the government and demanding Jokowi revoke the law.

The Jokowi-Ma’ruf administration faced similar rounds of protests early into their presidency concerning the same Jobs Law and possible amendments to the law on the Corruption Eradication Commission.

The outcome of earlier protests only saw the government postpone the ratification of the Jobs Law rather than axing it altogether.

Economic recession

The first year of Jokowi’s second term has been shrouded by an economic recession stemming from the coronavirus pandemic that has battered the Indonesian economy.