Unpopular President

Indonesia’s president reduced government subsidies for fuel in May, causing fuel prices to jump and his popularity among voters sank. But the coalition government continues an anti-poverty platform, including subsidized rice for the poor – and that combined with an ample supply could mitigate some economic complaints. Polls suggest that voters favor secular parties over those with Islamic roots and that economic issues remain a top concern, reports this article in the Economist. With 30 percent of the electorate undecided, prices of fuel and staples like rice, subject to global markets, could dictate the political future for the world’s largest Muslim democratic nation. – YaleGlobal