JAKARTA, November 08, 2026 (DAILYNWZ) — Hundreds of Indonesian workers rallied in support of President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday, while a separate demonstration by women’s rights groups challenged his policies, highlighting growing political divisions as a wiretapping scandal involving senior police officials adds to pressure on his administration.
The rival demonstrations came amid mounting public discontent over Prabowo’s costly populist programmes, his handling of prolonged forest fires and concerns about weakening investor confidence in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Leading the pro-government rally, Labour Party Chairperson Said Iqbal called on workers to unite behind the president and warned that trade unions could mobilise against anyone seeking to undermine his leadership.
“We can mobilise members of our organisation across every town, every factory,” Said, who also serves as a special adviser to Prabowo, was quoted as saying by Detik News.
“We are prepared to respond at any moment to maintain order should any unrest arise, whether instigated by foreign interests or by individuals seeking to cause trouble,” he added.
The demonstration comes as Indonesian police investigate allegations that senior officers attempted to intercept the president’s communications. Four senior police officials have been named as suspects, including a former police chief regarded as a close ally of former president Joko Widodo.
The case has exposed growing tensions between Prabowo and his predecessor, widely known as Jokowi, who was instrumental in backing his successor’s rise to power.
Jokowi has said he respects the legal process, while a lawyer representing one of the four suspects said his client would cooperate with investigators.
Separately, civil society organisations organised a women’s march in Jakarta on Saturday to demand greater women’s rights and denounce several government policies.
Protesters criticised Prabowo’s response to forest fires that have continued for months, his expensive free-meal programme and a tax imposed on women’s sanitary products.
The demonstrations reflect broader opposition to the president’s policies, with protests against his administration taking place repeatedly in recent months.
Student groups also staged rallies in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities last week, adding to pressure on a government facing criticism over its economic priorities and political decisions.
Saturday’s contrasting rallies illustrated the competing forces surrounding Prabowo’s presidency: organised labour groups publicly pledging support, while civil society organisations and students continue to challenge his administration.