TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated that the current price of natural gas in European countries has increased by 700 percent. He could not imagine if similar conditions occurred in Indonesia.

“Imagine that our fuel prices go up by 700 percent. [When it] goes up by just 20 percent, [people held protests] for four months, didn’t they? We usually [increase fuel prices] by 20 percent, and the demonstration lasts four months in all regions. I remember it well when comes to fuel matters,” he said at the 11th anniversary of the president’s volunteer forum, BARA JP, in Bogor on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

During his office term thus far, he recalled that fuel price hikes have occurred seven times. The prices surged gradually, starting from 10 to 20 percent, and by 30 percent in 2015. “That's only 30 percent and demonstrations kept being held. Imagine if it was 700 percent,” he said.

He acknowledged that a 700-percent price hike would definitely burden the community. At least 20 European countries have technically entered into a recession, he informed. Meanwhile, Indonesia is presently in good condition, even the top two countries with the best economy among the G20.

Jokowi further warned of global uncertainty. He mentioned that experts predicted this crisis could last for the next 5-10 years.

“So don't choose the wrong leader, because the world situation is not normal. Geopolitics [uncertainty] due to the war, the geo-economy is shifting. We don't know if a friend will be an enemy or not, and what used to be enemies will remain so or not,” he said.

According to him, the next 13 years will be a crucial moment for Indonesia to make decisions. He hopes the next leader will not make wrong decisions harming the country.

“Once we steer in the wrong direction, we can continue to be a developing country, trapped in a middle-income trap. Countries in Latin America in the 60s or 50s, are already developing countries, but still developing countries until now,” Jokowi said.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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