Anita Rachman – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's public approval rating has slipped, according to a survey conducted by Indonesian Circle (LSI), citing dissatisfaction with how the president has handled corruption scandals within his own party and poor law enforcement.

The survey, conducted from June 1 to 7 with 1,200 respondents, showed that Indonesian's satisfaction with their president dropped from 56.7 percent in January to 42.7 percent. LSI senior researcher Sunarto Ciptoharjono said that this was a critical number as it is below 50 percent.

LSI has conducted several surveys since January 2010, with the president's approval steadily declining. In January 2010, 63.1 percent of respondents were satisfied with the president's performance, in April 2010 it was 63.1 percent, 60.7 percent in September and 56.7 percent in January this year.

"This is a critical point for the president. He should make a move before 2014 or it will affect the Democrat Party's electability in 2014," Sunarto said, adding that there were many issues contributing to Yudhoyono's slipping approval.

"There are many unresolved cases – such as Bank Century bailout, the murder of activist Munir and corruption cases involving a fellow party member, Muhammad Nazaruddin," he said.

The president is also seen as too reactive when it comes to personal issues or issues affecting his image – for example, his response to a SMS that accused several Democratic Party politicians of being involved in graft cases.

The president also viewed as a leader who doesn't have a strong political operator. Sunarto said it could be seen from the performance from vice president, "he's not the type of leader that gets things done," he said.

He also said that the Democrat Party chairman didn't have the authority like other party's chairmen. "The coalition isn't solid to operate the president's policies," he said. "Also, the allegations of corruption cases that involve Democrats has destroyed the president's anti-corruption image."

LSI stated that the president needs a "big bang" to boost up the popularity of his party for the next poll, "or he will face the same fate like [former president] Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2004, where she didn't have anymore charisma to lift her party and own popularity."