<![CDATA[This article examines the ethics of public communication in the context of Indonesia’s political development. It argues that unethical discourse practised by public officials erodes democratic trust, institutional legitimacy and the effectiveness of governance. This research is a qualitative case study utilising transcripts of public officials’ statements, media coverage of key issues, and expert assessments from the period 2024–2026. The findings reveal a consistent pattern of communication characterised by condescension, hostility and a lack of empathy, ranging from dismissing expert advice on economic policy to labelling journalists as ‘foreign agents’—actions that clearly violate basic ethical standards of truth, accountability and respect. These actions have coincided with a decline in public trust: the President’s approval rating fell from 81.2 per cent to 51.1 per cent (November 2025 to July 2026), whilst Indonesia’s Corruption Perceptions Index score dropped from 99th to 109th place. The research approach is grounded in three theoretical perspectives: discourse ethics (Habermas), virtue ethics (Aristotle), and institutional theory (official accountability). Discourse ethics highlights breaches of validity claims (truth, normative correctness, sincerity, intelligibility). Virtue ethics points to deficiencies in civic virtues (empathy, humility, respect). Institutional theory emphasises the existence of a ‘paradox of formalism’, whereby codes of ethics exist but are not consistently enforced. The discussion situates these shortcomings within the framework of Indonesia’s feudal-patrimonial political culture, characterised by a wide power gap, top-down communication, and weak accountability mechanisms. This article proposes comprehensive reforms: (1) mandatory guidelines and training for all public officials on communication ethics; (2) strengthening of oversight bodies (e.g. the Public Information Commission) to review public communication; and (3) the establishment of a structured dialogue platform between the government and expert communities. These reforms are intended to foster a culture of ethical debate based on accountability, openness and responsiveness. This study emphasises that ethical public communication is not a peripheral aspect, but rather central to the consolidation of democracy in Indonesia. Without it, the state risks losing further public trust and legitimacy.]]>
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