When President Prabowo Subianto screamed “Hidup Jokowi!” (Viva Jokowi!) last Saturday (15/2) during his speech at the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) birthday celebration, many intellectuals and middle-class Indonesians were struck by a heart-breaking realization: Prabowo is inseparable from Joko Widodo. The hope that he would hold his predecessor accountable for a decade of destructive policies has now all but vanished.
Before this speech, many still believed that Prabowo’s public intimacy with Jokowi was merely strategic—a temporary necessity, forced by political debts or past compromises. Some speculated that he was being held hostage by certain legal or political pressures. Others thought his friendliness was a calculated act, a way to gain power before eventually distancing himself from Jokowi’s legacy. They believed that, given time, Prabowo would wake up to the reality that many of the country’s current problems were Jokowi’s doing.
However, Saturday’s speech shattered those illusions. Not only did Prabowo praise Jokowi, but he also openly expressed deep admiration and gratitude, crediting him for his path to the presidency. Such a public declaration of loyalty suggests that Prabowo will continue Jokowi’s policies, perhaps even more aggressively.
This concern deepened when Prabowo announced that Jokowi would supervise Danantara, a newly established super-fund that will manage around US$900 billion. This entity will merge seven of Indonesia’s largest state-owned enterprises, effectively replacing the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises. If Jokowi, who is no longer president, is given such enormous influence over Indonesia’s financial structure, it signals that his grip on the country remains strong.
A Government Under Jokowi’s Shadow
With this, Prabowo’s presidency is now widely perceived as a continuation of Jokowi’s rule, if not a full-fledged extension of it. Instead of addressing the economic, social, and political damage left behind, Prabowo seems poised to protect and even elevate Jokowi’s influence.
This revelation has sparked nationwide outrage, particularly among students, intellectuals, and pro-democracy activists. The prospect of another five years of Jokowi-style governance, marked by authoritarian tendencies, lack of transparency, and economic mismanagement, has led to massive demonstrations across Indonesia. Protesters march under the banner of “Indonesia Gelap” (Indonesia in Darkness), declaring that there is no light at the end of the tunnel unless Jokowi is brought to justice.
A Nation Silenced: The Role of the Media
Yet, even as these demonstrations erupt across major cities, the mainstream media remains eerily silent. Television stations, traditionally quick to cover political upheavals, appear to be deliberately ignoring the protests. In a democratic society, such large-scale movements should dominate news coverage, yet in Indonesia today, they are being erased from public discourse.
This media blackout suggests a dangerous collusion between the ruling elite and the press, further deepening the sense of hopelessness and distrust among Indonesians. A democracy without a free and independent press is no democracy at all—it is a manufactured illusion of stability, designed to keep the people in the dark.
A Bleak Future Ahead
Indonesia now faces a grim reality. What was once a glimmer of hope for change has faded into the darkness of political continuity and manipulation. The same network of power, influence, and corruption appears to remain firmly intact, with Prabowo acting as its new guardian.
Unless the Indonesian people break through this forced silence, demand accountability, and push for real reform, the country will remain in darkness—its future dictated not by the will of the people, but by the unchecked ambitions of its political elite and their business oligarchs.
