Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pardoned two political opponents - a former trade minister and a leading opposition lawmaker, Reuters reports, News.bg reports.
The pardons were granted to Hasto Kristianto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the largest parliamentary party, and Tomas Trikasih Lembong, a former trade minister in President Joko Widodo's cabinet.
Hasto was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for bribing an election commission official, while Lembong received the same sentence for illegally issuing sugar import permits.
Hasto's amnesty is seen mainly as a political gesture, aimed at winning the support of the largest opposition party in parliament. In the case of Lembong, the president's decision comes in response to growing public discontent with the court verdict.
The official government position is that the amnesty is part of efforts to build political unity. Presidents in Indonesia traditionally use the period before the national holiday, Independence Day on August 17, to grant pardons.
According to the Indonesian constitution, the head of state has the power to grant amnesties and commute sentences, but such actions require parliamentary approval.