President Prabowo Subianto is credited with successfully balancing three major power centers during his first year in office, according to research by Trias Politika Strategis (Triaspols), which analyzed coverage from three electronic media outlets from October 20, 2024, to September 30, 2025.

These three power centers include the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the 5th President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and the 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

"One year after inauguration, national politics appears more consolidated. Prabowo has successfully balanced the three major power centers that have shaped Indonesia’s political landscape over the past decade," said Agung Baskoro, Executive Director of Trias Politika Strategis, in a written statement on Thursday (October 23, 2025).

He added, "Jokowi has a strong power network in government and among the public, Megawati carries significant historical and ideological influence, and SBY provides a rational capacity that maintains balance in public discourse."

Trias Politika’s research indicated that Prabowo maintained closeness with Jokowi without compromising necessary distance throughout his first year in office. The cordial relationship between Prabowo and Jokowi, established during the government transition and the 2024 regional elections, was briefly challenged by the “twin sun” issue in early 2025.

"However, concerns over the two centers of power quickly subsided, as both displayed symbolic solidarity in the public sphere," Agung explained.

After the issue, Prabowo granted amnesty to figures who had previously opposed Jokowi, signaling that he was beginning to define his own political authority.

"Meanwhile, Jokowi openly instructed his supporters to back Prabowo-Gibran for two terms, marking a shift from personal closeness to political interest balance," Agung continued.

Respecting Megawati Without Submitting

Prabowo’s relationship with Megawati is characterized by respect without submission. Despite ups and downs, he has consistently sought to maintain a balanced relationship with her.

Agung noted that the relationship was tense at the end of 2024 due to legal issues involving PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto. In early 2025, Prabowo sent white orchids for Megawati’s birthday, a symbolic gesture to reopen communication.

Relations flared again from February to April 2025 due to Hasto’s ongoing case, and Megawati temporarily barred PDI-P local leaders from attending a retreat organized by Prabowo. However, the relationship thawed after a meeting in April 2025, and Prabowo granted amnesty to Hasto in July 2025.

"This political move marked the end of tensions between the government and PDIP. Since then, PDIP has positioned itself as a 'critical balancer,' while Prabowo maintains respectful political discourse toward Megawati," Agung said.

Mutual Respect with SBY

Prabowo’s relationship with SBY is built on mutual respect. Although SBY, appointed as an advisor to Danantara, continues to offer critical views on Prabowo’s administration, his critiques remain professional.

"Occasionally, SBY criticizes policies such as the 12% VAT or active TNI involvement in government, but all in a professional context," Agung explained.

Triaspols described this as an “elegant check and balance”: closeness that respects differences, and differences that do not escalate into conflict.

According to the research, politics under Prabowo’s era is characterized not by confrontation, but by continuity and power consolidation. The study analyzed more than 50,000 news articles from Kompas.com, Detik.com, and Tempo.co, categorizing them by theme, tone, and trend (rising, stable, declining).

As widely known, Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated as President of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 term on October 20, 2025, alongside Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Vice President.