Amnesty for Hasto, PDI-P Denies Transactional Politics

NUSA DUA, KOMPAS – The Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, appreciates the decision of President Prabowo Subianto to grant amnesty to the Secretary-General of PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto. This granting of amnesty is seen as a political signal to invite collaboration in nation-building.

This was conveyed by PDI-P politician Yasonna Laoly during the closed VI PDI-P Congress held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, Friday (1/8/2025). Yasonna made this statement when asked whether Megawati mentioned anything about amnesty for Hasto.

"Of course, we respect the President's decision, and Mr. Dasco was here yesterday. This is a political signal from the President; let us work together to build this nation," he stated.

As reported, Hasto was previously sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and a fine of IDR 250 million, with a subsidiary of three months' imprisonment, by the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court on July 25. He was found guilty of involvement in a bribery case concerning the replacement of a member of the DPR for Harun Masiku.

However, on Thursday (31/7/2025) evening, Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad announced that the DPR approved President Prabowo's request for consideration regarding the granting of amnesty to Hasto along with 1,116 other citizens. This statement was made by Dasco during a press conference at the Nusantara III Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, alongside the leadership of Commission III of the DPR, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas.

Shortly after the press conference, Dasco uploaded a photo of his meeting with Megawati, Chairman of the DPP PDI-P Prananda Prabowo, and Chairman of the DPP PDI-P Puan Maharani on his Instagram account. In the first photo, Dasco is seen accompanied by the Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi. "Weaving the threads of nationalism and brotherhood," reads the caption of the photo uploaded by Dasco.

Yasonna denied the existence of transactional politics related to the granting of the amnesty as well as the meeting between Dasco and Megawati. He claimed to be surprised by President Prabowo's decision.

"We were also surprised by this. It was never considered, it is truly the initiative of the president along with his legal team. It is surprising. And what can I say, it is beyond our political calculations," he stated.

Nevertheless, Yasonna considers the amnesty to be a good political breakthrough. "We hope that in the future this government continues to function well, receiving political support from the parties and, of course, the public," he stated.

Regarding the stance of PDI-P, Yasonna revealed the directives from Megawati that were conveyed during the technical guidance (bimtek) of the PDI-P faction on July 30, 2025. PDI-P, he stated, will support Prabowo's administration even while being outside the cabinet.

"If the PDI Perjuangan yesterday during the technical guidance, the Mother already stated, we support the government of Mr. Prabowo even though we are outside the cabinet, we continue to support as a balancing force," he emphasized.

Echoing Yasonna, PDI-P politician Said Abdullah also denied any transactional politics in Hasto's amnesty granting. "No, there was no transaction at all, that's all. Mr. Dasco's presence yesterday wasn't a one-off, one-off process. Mr. Dasco came," he said.

He emphasized that transactional politics is not in line with the character of PDI-P. "Let us not then, just because Mr. Dasco is coming, have an amnesty, and today we hold a congress as if its content is transactional. Far from it. That is not the character of PDI Perjuangan, nor is it the character of Mrs. Megawati," he said.

Said also declined to speculate on who initiated Dasco's meeting with Megawati. He stated that he did not personally receive the visit.

If the PDI Perjuangan was in the training yesterday, the Mother has already stated that we support the government of Mr. Prabowo even though we are outside the cabinet; we continue to support as a balancing force.

According to information gathered by Kompas, the meeting between Dasco, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Megawati, Prananda, and Puan took place in Sanur, Bali, on Thursday (July 31, 2025). Following the meeting, Dasco returned to Jakarta and held a press conference regarding Hasto's amnesty.