Only Provoking Emotion

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (second left) and running mate Ma\'ruf Amin (left) share a light moment with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto (second right), who is running for president with Sandiaga Uno (right) as his vice-presidential pick, at a pledge for a peaceful campaign that was held at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday. The declaration aims to combat hoaxes, hate speech as well as ethnic, religious, racial and societal group (SARA) sentiments to create a peaceful atmosphere for the 2019 presidential election.

Campaign activities have been taking place for nearly a month. However, the presidential candidates are still offering big narratives to the public. This nation needs positive narratives.

The campaign period is still being colored by the two sides attacking each other with phrases composed by the two presidential candidates or their success teams. Besides “lie politics”,  there is also “sontoloyo (silly) politics”. The government’s claim that the poverty rate is falling is responded to with the phrase “the lives of the people are still mediocre”. There are also candidates who try to associate themselves with the great figures of the past. These candidates seem not to be confident with themselves so they have to use the popularity or charisma of statesmen or the founding fathers of this nation.