Indonesia’s leader is going after critics with a vengeance. This could complicate relations with Australia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto waited decades for his chance to lead the country. The controversial former general finally won the office on his third attempt in a 2024 landslide election. Since then, Prabowo has wasted little time moving against Indonesia s fragile democracy, accelerating a process that began under his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. As Australia and Indonesia grow closer, this matters. The two neighbours agreed on an important bilateral security treaty in November,