Observer: Prabowo Implements Military Strategy to Strengthen Political Dominance

President Prabowo Subianto (doc. Gerindra)

JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto is believed to be implementing a political strategy tinged with military nuances to strengthen his dominance in government while eroding the influence of loyalists of the previous leader. As a former general, Prabowo is said to possess a strategic mentality that not only pursues victory but also dominates the terrain without open clashes.

Legal and political observer Rikardus Moan Baga believes these steps are not mere political maneuvers.

"Prabowo is carrying out military-level operations, a strategy known as winning without fighting. This dominance is built through precision, silence, and a quiet reorganization of power," he said in a statement on Tuesday, August 12.

According to Rikardus, signs of this are visible in efforts to lock down party elites, reorganize the composition of power, and ensure the TNI and Polri are free from old loyalties. All of this is being done without direct confrontation with the previous leader, who remains a symbolic patron even though he is slowly being weakened from within.

"This is similar to a strategic infiltration operation—infiltrating, creating a vacuum of influence at the command center, then uprooting it without toppling the figurehead," he explained.

He likened this tactic to draining the water from a pond instead of hitting the fish in it. Prabowo is also considered to frequently use controlled surprise—a calculated shock effect—such as forming coalitions with former opponents without prior warning, or changing policy direction suddenly but deliberately, making it difficult for political opponents to predict his movements.

Furthermore, Rikardus believes Prabowo is utilizing psychological operations strategies to weaken the cohesion of old forces, through ambiguous information, unexpected moves, and confusing symbols. "This way, old loyalists lose their way without feeling like they are under a frontal attack," he said.

This strategy, according to Rikardus, is a form of political decoupling—separating one's influence from the system without attacking the figurehead.

"Prabowo accepts figures associated with the old leader, but at the same time forms an independent power bloc that operates in its own orbit," he said.

He also mentioned the mobilization of technocrats and elites across the political spectrum to form a "shadow cabinet" ready to implement a new agenda, while maintaining old symbols to avoid resistance.

"By controlling logistics, narratives, and power networks, the center of control has now shifted to Prabowo. The old leader no longer holds full control, but also has no formal reason to resist," he explained.

For Rikardus, this is effective passive pressure. "There's no major clash, but the old influence is being eroded until it loses its foothold. This is the art of politics with military discipline—victory born of silence," he concluded.