By Stefanno Sulaiman and Ananda Teresia

JAKARTA (Reuters) -Thousands of Indonesians have taken to the streets this month to vent against higher taxes, and local leaders warn public outrage will only worsen if President Prabowo Subianto’s new proposal to slash regional funding comes to pass.

Prabowo last week proposed to parliament that regional funding be cut by a quarter to 650 trillion rupiah ($40 billion) in 2026 – part of his efforts to re-centralise government finances and fund signature ambitious policy programmes like his promise of free school lunches nationwide.

The planned cuts are sure to inflame the debate over Prabowo’s spending priorities. The government argues the programmes will bring economic growth and prosperity over the long term, but critics counter his priorities a

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