Reading Megawati's silhouette: Between harmony, hegemony and democracy

Indonesia's political theater was once again marked by captivating drama following President Prabowo Subianto 's granting amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto, the former secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). This move, touted as an effort for "national unity and harmony", has sparked intense speculation about the position of Megawati Soekarnoputri and her party.

The public, especially civil society, anxiously awaits: Will the PDI-P, the only party outside of the government, join Prabowo's so-called grand coalition or choose the path of a "balancer", as Megawati promised?

Language is a reflection of thought, even unspoken intentions. The claim of President Prabowo, as well as those around him, that Hasto’s amnesty is for "national unity and harmony" needs careful scrutiny. Is this narrative purely altruistic, or does it conceal deeper political calculations?

In this context, the amnesty can be read as a "tender" or even a "soft invitation". The choice of "unity" in the wording is an attempt to provide moral legitimacy to an action that is politically very strategic. This is language that tries to cloak a political raison d'être in the guise of universal good.