People Power is Elite's Political Fatigue and Jargon, says Expert

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political expert of the Islamic State University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Adi Prayitno assessed that the term ‘people power’ often heard in the current political climate by Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno supporters is merely a jargon and political elites’ political fatigue.

The terms were first heard campaigned by National Mandate Party (PAN) senior member Amien Rais who accused the presidential election to be rigged. He claimed that the findings clearly harmed the chances of Prabowo – Sandiaga Uno.

 “The people power term first voiced by Amien Rais is only political fatigue actually, that is why the idioms that were used are slightly provocative,” said Adi to Tempo on Thursday, May 16.

Read: Amien Rais Reported to Police for Treason Through People Power

Adi argues that the ‘people power’ mentioned by Amien refers to a massive collective movement that demands an extreme change within a country. He says things like these take place more often in totalitarian states.

However, he says that the people power movement being constantly called upon does not represent the actual public rejection in general. In other words, he says this narrative is turning to be counterproductive.

“Because the people themselves reject any people power movement,” said Adi who deems it would better be represented by calling mass movements as political participation.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI