Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approval rating has hit an all-time high after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions last month, a poll shows.
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Figures released by pollster Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) on Sunday showed satisfaction with the president, widely known as Jokowi, had risen consistently in recent months to reach 76.2 per cent at the start of the year.
"In the last three months, the president's performance has increased in (terms of) positive public perception from 62.6 per cent in September 2022 to 76.2 per cent," LSI executive director Djayadi Hanan said.
"If we look at the last three months, the increase is quite significant."
The more than 10-point jump put Jokowi on his highest approval rating recorded by LSI during his current term which began in 2014.
"I think this was mostly because of the lifting of (COVID-19) social restrictions and a decrease in fuel prices," Hanan told Reuters.
"The narrative that the economy will be very difficult, particularly in 2023, has been there since the beginning of last year."
Jokowi's announcement in December of the end of pandemic restrictions was well received, the pollster said, as the restrictions had been seen as hurting the economy.
The LSI poll, conducted between January 7 and 11 and covering more than 1200 respondents, also comes months after the start of a high-profile trial against a former Indonesian police general.
The case sparked public uproar about alleged corruption and impunity within the police but the fact the case was made so public was taken as a sign the government was at least trying to tackle the issues.
LSI cited improvements in perceptions of the economy and law enforcement as reasons for the ratings jump.
Jokowi's poll rating appears to have been unaffected by both the passing last month of a controversial new criminal code and his issuing of an emergency regulation to replace the jobs law.
Jokowi is serving his second and final term in office, with the next election scheduled for February 2024.
Sunday's poll found Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo was the favoured candidate to succeed Jokowi, although his candidacy is yet to be announced.
The other top candidates were Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, both of who have announced they intend to run.
Australian Associated Press