JAKARTA - Political communications analyst Hendri Satrio views President Prabowo Subianto's decision to grant amnesty to the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Hasto Kristiyanto, as a message of peace and an embrace of all parties. However, he also highlighted the identity of the person who encouraged the exercise of this prerogative.
"Who was it that threw this slanted bait at Mr. Prabowo to make this decision? This amnesty decision is very good, everyone was surprised," said Hendri in his statement on Saturday, August 2.
Hensa, as he is familiarly known, believes that the amnesty for Hasto is not merely a legal step, but also reflects strong political communication.
Prabowo, he said, wants to demonstrate his commitment to creating political stability by embracing groups previously considered antagonistic, including the PDI-P.
"Mr. Prabowo has said from the beginning that he wants to embrace all parties for development. Well, one way to do this is by eliminating political noise that could lead to an escalation," he said.
According to Hensa, the relationship between Prabowo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has never been truly strained. For example, PDI-P maintains Puan Maharani's position as Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) despite Gerindra's coalition power to change the rules.
"I think they've never been less cordial. PDI-P enjoys political privileges, like Mbak Puan remaining Speaker of the House; that hasn't been tampered with," he said.
Furthermore, Hensa highlighted an Instagram post by Gerindra politician Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who posted a photo with Puan Maharani, Prananda Prabowo, and Megawati Soekarnoputri following the announcement of the abolition.
He argued that the photo symbolized Prabowo's desire to show the public that his government is not hostile to the opposition, but rather encouraging cooperation.
"The communication message from Bang Dasco is very clear. The election is over, let's build together. This affirms that the political ripples left over from the election must end," Hensa said.
From a long-term strategic perspective, Hensa sees a vision for 2029 in this decision. The amnesty for Hasto could be the first step towards building a broader coalition in the future.
However, he emphasized that this does not mean the PDI-P will immediately join the government. Hensa sees the PDI-P as having the potential to play a critical role, thus remaining a relevant partner without joining the cabinet.
"The PDI-P has a critical role in the legislature. For example, Mr. Darmadi Durianto asked about the Red and White Cooperative's business plan. That's healthy critical input," Hensa said.
Hensa also added that this amnesty could influence future political dynamics, particularly Prabowo's relationship with the PDI-P. However, he emphasized that this relationship does not always have to take the form of a formal coalition.
"In political science, you don't have to be part of a group to be considered to support that group," he said.
The PDI-P, with its critical position in the legislature, can still contribute without losing its independence.
"Although in this amnesty decision, I also see Mr. Prabowo's vision for 2029, which he decided on today," said Hensa.
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