jakarta first months year president joko widodo embattle leader grapple indonesia serious political religious tensions two decades come storm look strong ever popularity near record highs thank deft maneuver foes try exploit blasphemy case one ally widodo stamp authority rule coalition parliament security force quietly speak former furniture salesman may prove political mettle next challenge economy refuse respond conventional policies fire growth could dent re-election chance 2019 especially budget stretch lavish government spend senior government officials worry widodo distract battle political opponents take eye economy suffer bad policy right ... fix regain initiative could easily see gdp growth go risk want take say one senior government official ask identify accord june survey nearly 60 percent people poll satisfy widodo performance almost all-time high poll also show high expectations would deliver promise revive lackluster economy perform economy would give ammunition opposition challenge jokowi 2019 say djayadi hanan saiful mujani research center jakarta-based pollster use president nickname indonesia gdp growth shamble around percent past two years low lift country middle-income trap largely domestic consumption engine economy bank lend sluggish unexpected cut interest rat last month highlight struggle lift growth despite government initiatives include tax amnesty program infrastructure drive series regulatory tweak design make business easy government little fiscal room breathe life economy budget deficit already close legally mandate ceiling percent gdp parliament could impeach widodo allow deficit run past limit david sumual chief economist indonesia bank central asia say hike electricity tariff slow disbursement subsidies farmers weaken purchase power middle- lower-income households meanwhile higher-income group worry government push aggressive tax reform leave less well problem confidence prospect economy people want spend sumual say state-of-the-nation address last month widodo pledge tackle income inequality cut red tape make land acquisition easy accelerate infrastructure project last week urge cabinet focus attract investment boost growth create job two officials speak reuters say worry match rhetoric bold step need take growth march high next year campaign 2019 presidential election begin to-do list remain find way rein overbear dominance state-owned enterprises economy single world bank july something prevent private fund flow addition need speed efforts tackle tortuous regulatory license regime lift investment area widodo say last week launch new policy package much improve much fix months ago widodo appear fight political survival political opponents join force radical islamist group foment popular fury allege blasphemous comment make widodo ally basuki tjahaja purnama former christian governor jakarta amid massive protest central jakarta rumor treason plot even military takeover beat drum indonesia unity diversity motto widodo embark frenzy public appearances military barrack home political rival ally moderate islamic board school aim project image unity control busy past six eight months fight back destabilize force say endy bayuni editor-in-chief widely read english daily jakarta post show much control situation become even mature politician widodo late move regain political authority take aim hardline islamist group executive decree ban hizb-ut tahrir group call indonesia rule islamic sharia law say ambition run counter country secular ideology political dominance could provide widodo false sense security senior government official say dark side story ... economy say think big threat potentially flip side incredibly strong political position would complacency political storm indonesia president face economic cloud