AHY Jokes About Democratic Party's Time in Opposition: 'No Need for That Anymore, Right?'

The Democratic Party held a kick-off event for its 25th anniversary celebrations. During the event, Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) brought up the period when his party was outside the government. AHY initially reminded cadres to support the Democratic Party’s struggle to the end. He expressed pride in several of the party’s achievements to date. “LavAni became Proliga champions, Livoli champions, and several of its players recently made us proud by becoming champions of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Championship, and we were the MVP. This is not the Democratic Party, but the extended Democratic Party family,” AHY said in his speech at Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/7/2026). AHY then touched on the party’s plan to conduct a 360-degree outreach to other political parties. At this moment, AHY spoke briefly about documentation of himself when he was still in the opposition or outside the government. “We will carry out the 360-degree outreach. If you look at this, I used to still have…,” AHY said while pointing to a photo of himself with a moustache. “This is the difference, this was when we were still in the opposition. We don’t need to be like that anymore, right?” he asked the Democratic Party cadres, who responded with laughter. The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure brought up the era of former Democratic Party Secretary-General Teuku Riefky Harsya. AHY said the Democrats want to build good relations with various political parties. “Back then, everyone… Mr Riefky, Mr Iftitah, everyone. But the point is we want to build good 360-degree outreach with various figures, including party leaders at the central and regional levels. Do you all agree?” AHY asked. “Agreed,” the cadres replied. AHY stressed that politics must also prioritise ethics. He wants his party’s struggle to be maintained. “The Democratic Party wants to be friends with everyone. Politics is politics. Competition must end when we all want to advance this nation. But in the struggle, we must also have a great spirit and purpose,” he added.