PDIP: Indonesia Has Become a Populist Authoritarian State Since Jokowi's Second Term
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Secretary-General of PDI-P Hasto Kristiyanto has stated that Indonesia has become a populist authoritarian state since President Joko Widodo’s second term.
According to Hasto, this shift is marked by Indonesia’s democratic practices moving away from political and economic democracy rooted in Pancasila values.
“We deeply regret that the political and economic democracy, which forms the core of Indonesia’s democracy, has now transformed into a centralised system,” Hasto said during a speech at the PDI-P Party School in Jakarta on Monday, 1 June 2026, leading the Pancasila Birthday commemoration ceremony.
At the same event, Hasto criticised the legal system’s increasing subordination to power, stating that justice-focused law has lost its independence.
“The legal system, which should prioritise justice, has been altered to serve power,” he said.
“Law enforcement officials and the entire state apparatus have been reduced to tools for electoral mobilisation and protectors of the power elite. This was evident in the 2024 general election,” he added.
Hasto said PDI-P previously issued an apology to the public during the party’s National Working Meeting (Rakernas).
“During the Rakernas, PDI-P apologised to all Indonesians for the transformation of power’s character due to ambition,” he said.
Hasto also highlighted cases of political and legal criminalisation, stressing the importance of the rule of law as the foundation of state life.
“When cases of political and legal criminalisation occur, they provoke strong criticism that without the rule of law, there can be no stable political structure or a thriving economic system for prosperity,” he said.
“A just legal system is fundamental. Without it, there is no respect for humanity, people’s welfare, and justice. Without a just legal system, everything becomes costly and uncertain,” Hasto concluded.
During his second term in 2021, Jokowi addressed accusations of authoritarianism.
At that time, the University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI) labelled Jokowi “The King of Lip Service”.
“It has been like this for a long time. Some used to say I was klemar-klemer, others called me plonga-plongo, then later some said I was authoritarian,” he said during a press briefing via the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, 29 June 2021.
He added that criticism is permissible in a democracy.
“Universities should not prevent students from expressing themselves. But remember, we have a culture of etiquette and politeness,” Jokowi said.