AHY Respects PDIP as Government Opposition: We Also Have Experience
Jakarta – Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) respects the stance of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in becoming the opposition to President Prabowo Subianto’s government. AHY stressed that the Democratic Party also has experience as a government opposition.
“I respect all political parties that have certain stances and views. Everyone has an agenda, everyone has interests. But let us place our common and national interests above partisan interests,” AHY said at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, 22 June 2026.
“We have also been in opposition, so it can be said that the Democrats have a complete set of experience and track record. We are grateful for all of that,” he continued.
On the other hand, he assessed that the contestation for the 2029 General Election is still quite far off. However, AHY views it as normal if political tension sometimes heats up.
“I think it is normal to be dynamic, and I think it is only natural if politics sometimes heats up. But let us all realise that it is still 2024 heading towards 2029, which is still quite a while away,” he said.
According to him, being a political party outside the government must involve providing constructive views and criticism for the country, not the opposite, which divides the nation and fails to offer positive input.
“When in opposition, there is certainly an interest in providing views, even criticism, but of course it must be constructive, must also come with solutions, must not divide the nation, and must not discredit as if everything is wrong,” he said.
“But when there is something that is indeed correct and represents the aspirations of the people, the government also listens, the government must also be willing to conduct evaluations and so forth,” he added.
He assessed that democracy in Indonesia will be healthy, partly through the presence of PDIP as a balancing party. AHY also advised all members of the Democratic Party faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives to maintain parliamentary harmony and provide positive input to the government.
“So I see our democracy will grow and be healthy, including becoming more mature, if such a spirit is present. Checks and balances are also necessitated in any democracy, whatever the political choice. Beyond that, the Democrats also have the spirit to continue providing the best input, which comes from the people, and hopefully this is what we can continue to safeguard in the political and democratic life of Indonesia,” he concluded.