Anies Baswedan’s Rhetoric amid Political Polarization for COVID-19 Handling in Jakarta, Indonesia

Political leaders worldwide used a diverse model of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhetoric becomes an important aspect to comprehend the particular elite communication model. This article discusses Anies Baswedan’s political rhetoric in COVID-19 handling wherein some cases contradict central government policies. Given the increasing political polarisation in Jakarta, Baswedan has become one of the most controversial actors in the national political arena. We use a political rhetorical analysis approach to understand Baswedan’s political actions and rhetoric. Furthermore, we determine that Baswedan’s model of rhetoric political communication is consistent and different from most political elites whose deliberative style is more dominant. Baswedan appears to employ a different type of rhetoric when countering the central government’s opinion and gaining public support. In the former, Baswedan primarily applies the type of bureaucratic rhetoric, which tends to be more technical. Conversely, Baswedan tends to choose the rhetorical style of advice when narrating the idea of handling the COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the COVID-19 outbreak provides important momentum for Baswedan to improve his image as an elite political personality and as the governor of Jakarta. Our study significantly contributes to understanding rhetoric as an important model for elite political communication in the face of crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and comprehending rhetoric’s impact on the elite and society.