Shrinking civic space, militarization could drag down Indonesia’s corruption index: TII

**Indonesia’s corruption perception score risks further decline in 2026 as shrinking civic space, rising militarization, and attacks on press freedom persist under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.** Transparency International Indonesia (TII) warned that the underlying factors behind the country’s poor 2025 score have shown little improvement halfway through the year. Indonesia scored 34 out of 100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, a three-point drop from 2024, placing it 109th globally and below neighbors like Timor-Leste and Malaysia.</p><p class="summary-lead">**TII secretary-general Danang Widoyoko cited the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus by Indonesian Military soldiers in March as a stark example of growing threats to free speech.** The attack underscores how state-linked violence against critics is eroding the rule of law and public trust. Danang noted that without significant reforms, the same indicators that dragged down the 2025 score—including weakened civil liberties and unchecked military influence—will likely push the index lower this year.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The global average score of 42 highlights how far Indonesia lags in perceived governance integrity, with the country now trailing regional peers.** The Berlin-based Transparency International measures perceived public sector corruption, where higher scores reflect cleaner governance. Indonesia’s continued decline signals that systemic issues, from impunity for security forces to constrained media freedom, are deepening rather than improving.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The implications extend beyond reputation: deteriorating anti-corruption momentum could deter foreign investment and weaken institutional accountability.** Investors and international partners often use CPI scores as a proxy for governance risk. If Indonesia’s score falls further, it may face higher borrowing costs and reduced confidence in its legal and regulatory frameworks.</p><p class="summary-lead">**What to watch next:** Whether the government takes concrete steps to curb military involvement in civilian affairs and protect press freedom, or if the trend toward authoritarian consolidation accelerates ahead of the next CPI release.