Populist Technocracy: Deconstruction of Bahlil Lahadalia's Political Rhetoric at the 2023 Investment Coordination Meeting

Abstract

This study analyzes how political rhetoric is used to construct state legitimacy in the speech of the Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, at the 2023 National Investment Coordination Meeting (Rakornas). Using a qualitative approach grounded in Aristotle's rhetorical theory (ethos, pathos, logos) and a modern political communication perspective, the study examines the speech's argumentation structure, strategic framing, and political function. The research data consist of speech transcripts analyzed thematically. The results show that Bahlil's rhetoric is dominated by logos, supported by empirical data, reinforced by ethos through the legitimacy of presidential power, and complemented by pathos that builds emotional resonance related to the end of the government's term. Furthermore, the rhetoric functions as a political instrument for branding and legitimizing government investment policies. These findings confirm that modern political communication serves not only as an informational tool but also as a strategic mechanism for securing state legitimacy in the public sphere