Opinion | Indonesia’s coronavirus crisis will define President Joko Widodo’s political legacy as cases surge

Indonesia has struggled to control its latest Covid-19 surge as public anger builds over the government’s failure to effectively mitigate the pandemic

President Joko Widodo has become a lightning rod for this anger, prompting prospective presidential candidates to distance themselves

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A woman sits by the grave of a relative who died of Covid-19 in Jakarta earlier this month. Photo: AP

Published: 9:00am, 14 Jul 2021Updated: 9:00am, 14 Jul 2021

As Indonesian President Joko Widodo faces mounting criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, several politicians who could vie to replace him in 2024 have begun distancing themselves from the government’s approach.

Widodo earlier this month announced emergency measures to contain the country’s worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began more than 18 months ago. The measures – effective from July 2-20 – put the entire Java and Bali region into a strict lockdown, the first one adopted in Indonesia since the virus was first detected there in March 2020. It was extended last week to cover provincial capitals in Sumatra, Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and West Papua after an alarming spike in new cases.

Indonesia’s confirmed Covid-19 cases grew exponentially last month – from a low of 4,821 on June 1 to an all-time high of 40,427 on July 8. A record death toll of 1,040 was recorded on July 7. Vaccination rates remain sluggish – less than 10 per cent of the population have received at least one shot.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo waves during a visit to a mass vaccination campaign at a stadium in Jakarta last month. Photo: AP

Most epidemiologists believe the actual rate of infections is even higher than the official tally, estimating there could be at least 100,000 new cases per day. This is because Indonesia has not upgraded its testing capacities since the beginning of the pandemic, meaning adequate test-and-trace systems are virtually non-existent outside major cities such as Jakarta and Bandung.

Widodo has been criticised for his unwillingness to adopt strict lockdown measures and for prioritising the economy over public health protections, but he is not alone.

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