TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center of Reform on Economic (CORE) executive director Mohammad Faisal commented on the elections' quick counts by numerous agencies, which showed Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka leading against their contenders with over 50 percent of votes bagged.

If Prabowo and Gibran become president and vice president, Faisal said, the weaknesses of economic development during Jokowi's terms will continue in the next government's era.

"For some people, entrepreneurs and investors, what is worrying is the direction of development, which has had many weaknesses over the last 10 years," Faisal told Tempo on Friday, February 16.

His concerns are not without basis, as Prabowo and Gibran have confirmed that they will indeed continue the policies made during the Jokowi government era. Thus, it is likely that development programs such as the National Strategic Project (PSN) will remain over the next five years.

The problem is, according to Faisal, there are many shortcomings in the direction of development in the Jokowi government, particularly about the quality of economic development, which has not been distributed evenly throughout Indonesia as seen from the income gap between provinces, and regencies.

If Prabowo-Gibran wins the presidential election, Faisal estimates that handling the poor will most likely continue to rely on populist policies such as social assistance programs, free meals, and cash aids. As a result, the policies will not touch the empowerment of the poor.

Prabowo also promised to continue the food estate program, nickel downstream, and the development of the Indonesian National Capital (IKN) launched by Jokowi. These projects have received strong criticism from a number of experts and activists because they damage the environment and social aspects of local residents.

Prabowo even said that he has prepared a strategy called the "Nation's Transformation", which is based on policies built by Jokowi. In fact, he said, strategy's book already exists, and its core foundation was made by Jokowi, using the Pancasila economic philosophy.

Riani Sanusi Putri

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