President Jokowi’s Political Communication Style

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo (two from the right) has lunch with TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, TNI AD Chief of Staff General Mulyono, and Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Laksamana Ade Supandi on December 14, 2017 at Bogor Palace.

“A democracy is hearing the voices of the people and putting them into action. So, why is it that every day we come to the villages, the markets, the riverbanks, the farmers and the fish auctions? Because we want to hear the voices of the people,” said Joko Widodo when asked about the meaning of democracy at the 2014-2019 Presidential-Vice Presidential candidate inaugural debate at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta, 9 June 2014.

Jokowi, who was then the inactive governor of Jakarta, explained that various problems could be resolved through dialogue and deliberation with the people.

The Tanah Abang Market and Pluit Reservoir issues have often been used as an example of successfully resolving disputes between the people and the Jakarta administration through dialogue.

So, why is it that every day we come to the villages, the markets, the riverbanks, the farmers and the fish auctions? Because we want to hear the voices of the people

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“The Tanah Abang issue, the Pluit Reservoir as well, were solved through dialogue and deliberation. Being invited to meals, holding dialogues, being invited to have discussions to seek solutions to differences of opinions,” said Jokowi, who was accompanied by vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla.

Jokowi’s answer on the meaning of democracy is closely related to his experience. Since becoming Mayor of Solo, Central Java, in 2005, he has resolved various problems through dialogue with the people. One of which, was the arrangement of street vendors (PKL) in the Banjarsari area, Solo, between 2005-2006. About 1,000 street vendors who had been doing business in Banjarsari for decades were relocated without turmoil.

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The success of managing street vendors in Solo cannot be separated from Jokowi’s approach. He did not immediately order something to be done. “If you want it to be quick and easy, it can be done. With our authority, we could simply take a bulldozer, evict them and it’ll be done. It could be finished within three days,” said Jokowi in an interview excerpt from a profile article published by Kompas (1/3/2008).

Kompas

An article on Joko Widodo\'s profile when he was Mayor of Solo was published in the March 1, 2008 edition of the Kompas daily.

However, he chose to approach with dialogue. “The Javanese approach,” he termed. Street vendor community leaders were invited to eat together at the mayor’s official residence at Loji Gandrung. The plan to relocate the street vendors was not immediately revealed at the first meeting. Until the 53rd meeting, the street vendors were only invited to chat and eat. Only at the 54th meeting did Jokowi convey his intentions to move the street vendors from Banjarsari.

Jokowi maintained his dialogue approach when he served as Jakarta Governor in 2012-2014. The improvement of the Tanah Abang street vendors in 2013 was also relatively smooth. Not only were street vendors spoken to, but thugs as well. Hundreds of street vendors who previously took up space on the sidewalks around the market and Tanah Abang Station were moved to the renovated Block G.

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This habit of solving problems through dialogue was also carried over until Jokowi became President. Jokowi almost never missed a chance to visit traditional markets and chat with vendors whenever he visited regional areas.

Too many times Jokowi has invited the former president and vice president to lunch, as well as community leaders, academics, religious leaders and student activists. Through these lunches, Jokowi was able to receive input on an issue or explain a policy of his that has caused differing views.

Equality

Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) political communications lecturer Gun Gun Heryanto said that since Jokowi served as Mayor of Solo, it appears that he has an equal style in political communication. This style usually emphasizes closeness, warmth and reciprocity, so that the approach used is persuasive. This communication style was still maintained until the beginning of Jokowi’s first term as President.

At the beginning of that period, Jokowi emphasized grassroots communication rather than bureaucratic approaches. However, at the end of Jokowi’s first term and entering his second term, Gun Gun observed a shift in Jokowi’s communication style.

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Kompas

Article in Kompas Daily 9 February 2008, when Joko Widodo as Mayor of Solo, Central Java, relocated street vendors in Solo

This was reflected, for example, when there was resistance in a number of civil society groups regarding the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law as well as recently in the drafting and passing of the Job Creation Law. “Communication with civil society was relatively minimal,” he said.

According to Gun Gun, a number of factors can cause changes in a person’s communication style, namely interests, the socio-cultural environment and the communicators themselves.

Separately, State Secretary Pratikno stated that President Jokowi has not changed. “The President Jokowi I know today is exactly the same as the President Jokowi six years ago. A figure who always listens to, thinks about and fights for the interests of the lowest-tier people of the economy. President Jokowi is also the one who always forces the bureaucracy to run programs that are truly enjoyed by the people, which are delivered and felt by the public,” he said.

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President Jokowi is also complemented by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, added Pratikno. “As in the previous administration period, the Vice President paid special attention to handling poverty issues, MSME [micro, small and medium enterprises] development, sharia economic development and bureaucratic reforms, as well as issues of national strengthening,” said Pratikno.

Presidential Staff Office Deputy IV for political communication and information Juri Aridiantoro added, in the context of the job creation bill deliberations, data from ministries and institutions showed that processes for receiving input and enabling dialogue had been open and intensive.