President Prabowo: Government Must Be Willing to Be Criticized

BOGOR, KOMPAS — The collaboration of parties in nation-building does not mean that all political parties must be part of the government coalition. Contributions in various forms can be made from outside the government, including in the form of criticism and oversight. President Prabowo Subianto also promised that the government would not be averse to criticism.

The government's willingness to accept criticism was conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto in his speech at the peak event of the 17th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), West Java, Saturday (15/2/2025). Prabowo, who also serves as the General Chairman and Chairman of the Gerindra Advisory Council, delivered his speech in front of Gerindra cadres, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, ministers and deputy ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet, as well as the general chairmen and leaders of all political parties in Indonesia.

Not only were members of the Coalition of Indonesia Maju (KIM) Plus, the government-supporting coalition, present at the event, but it was also attended by representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the only parliamentary party outside the government. PDI-P was represented by PDI-P Treasurer Olly Dondokambey and Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) PDI-P Said Abdullah. Additionally, the event was attended by the 7th President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, the 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, and the 6th Vice President of Indonesia Try Sutrisno.

Prabowo continued, both Gerindra and other political parties share the same ideals, namely fighting for the interests of the nation and the state. Therefore, he has long rejected the concept of "political opponents" in Indonesian democracy. According to him, in the context of this shared goal, political parties should not be enemies but rather comrades in arms who compete to serve the people.

In the electoral democratic process, Prabowo acknowledged, there must indeed be winners and losers. However, after the electoral process ends, all parties should reunite to work together in their respective capacities. "Reuniting does not mean everyone joins the government, no. If necessary, yes. If necessary. (But) if not, that's also fine," he said.

For Prabowo, there is no difference in status between parties inside or outside the government because they are all fellow patriots of the nation. By taking a position outside the government, political parties can actually contribute by providing corrections and oversight. This is an important contribution to improving the performance of the government.

"We (the government coalition party) must be willing to be supervised. We must be willing to be corrected. We must be willing to be criticized. But the criticism must be correct, not based on revenge," he said.

Since being inaugurated on October 20, 2024, the Prabowo-Gibran Rakabuming Raka government has received political support from the majority of parliamentary political parties. Of the eight political parties that have seats in the People's Representative Council (DPR), only one party is not part of the government, namely the PDI-P, the winning party in the 2024 Election which in the 2024 Presidential Election nominated its own candidate pair. In addition to the PDI-P, there are also the Nasdem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which did not nominate Prabowo-Gibran in the 2024 Presidential Election but later became part of the government.

Despite being outside the government, a number of PDI-P elites have expressed that they will continue to support Prabowo. This is because PDI-P has no obstacles whatsoever with the figure of the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia or the party he leads. In recent times, it has also been widely reported that Prabowo will meet with the General Chairperson of PDI-P who is also the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Met after the 17th anniversary of Gerindra, Said Abdullah did not deny that the opportunity for a meeting between Prabowo and Megawati still exists. In fact, with the presence of PDI-P at the Gerindra event, the opportunity for the meeting is increasingly open. Currently, Megawati is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates after Italy and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

"God willing, (Prabowo's meeting with Megawati) will be closer," he said.

He continued, PDI-P does not have to enter the government. However, his party will continue to support parties who share the same side with the people. "(We) do not have to enter the government, what is important is that the vision and orientation of the people are the same," said Said.

In addition to talking about the relationship between the government and political parties, Prabowo also touched on the aspirations of Gerindra cadres to nominate him again as a presidential candidate in the 2029 Presidential Election. The aspirations were conveyed at the Gerindra Extraordinary Congress (KLB) at Prabowo's residential complex, Hambalang, West Java, Thursday (2/13/2025). In the KLB, the central, regional, and branch administrators of Gerindra also re-appointed Prabowo as the General Chairperson and Chairperson of the Gerindra Advisory Board for the 2025-2030 period.

"It's actually strange, after only 100 days of work he is already being forced to run again in 2029," said Prabowo.

He admitted that he had reminded Gerindra cadres to oversee him in implementing government programs for the next five years. If he fails to execute all of that, he also asked not to be nominated. "If I disappoint the people's trust, I will be ashamed to run again," Prabowo said.

Responding to the discourse, some political parties that are members of KIM Plus did not have a problem with it. Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Yandri Susanto, was one of them. “PAN is Gerindra’s true ally. The most loyal to Gerindra is PAN. Three to four times, maybe five times, but the most loyal to Gerindra and Mr. Prabowo is PAN,” said Yandri, who is now the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, when met on the sidelines of Gerindra’s 17th Anniversary.

PKB General Chairman and Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar also admitted that he would not have a problem if Prabowo advanced as a presidential candidate in 2029. Because, the figure is considered in line with the needs of the nation. Moreover, PKB would not mind if invited to join as a political party supporting Prabowo. "With pleasure," he said.

As for PDI-P, Said said, Gerindra's decision to nominate Prabowo in the 2029 presidential election was a realistic decision. As a political party founded and led by the President, it is only right that they return to nominate Prabowo.

However, he could not yet confirm how PDI-P views the decision. However, he ensured that his party is always with all political parties that share the same people's orientation. "We will always be with all parties, especially Gerindra, (because) the orientation of PDI-P and Gerindra (is) the same," said Said.