AHY Says Power Has Its Limits — Here Is Gerindra Spokesman's Response

Jakarta, VIVA – Gerindra Party spokesman Bahtra Banong said his party had no objection to and respected the statement by Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) that power has its limits.

“Of course we value and respect the views of every party, whether those outside the coalition or those within the government as part of the Red-and-White Cabinet coalition led by President Prabowo,” Bahtra told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

Bahtra emphasised that Gerindra’s current focus is to safeguard the priority programmes of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

“We are safeguarding President Prabowo’s priority programmes because, after the last presidential election, the campaign promises must of course be fulfilled,” he said.

“We in Gerindra are truly focused on ensuring that the benefits of President Prabowo’s priority programmes can be felt by all levels of society without exception,” he continued.

He also asserted that Gerindra has no problem if parties within the ruling coalition wish to run in the upcoming presidential election contest.

Bahtra said every party has its own rights and Gerindra cannot stand in anyone’s way.

“We also certainly give full latitude to any coalition party that wishes or hopes in future to take part in that contest — by all means, go ahead. Every party has its own independence, and of course we cannot block any party whatsoever,” Bahtra concluded.

As previously reported, Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono reminded his cadres that power does not belong to any one person forever, but is a mandate from the people with a time limit.

“Power does not belong to a person forever. Power is the people’s mandate, which has a time limit,” AHY said in a speech at the Democratic Party’s 25th anniversary celebration at the party’s central executive board building in Jakarta on Saturday, 6 September 2026.

AHY said this principle must continue to be upheld by Democratic Party cadres in order to keep Indonesia’s democratic climate healthy.

According to the former military officer, democracy is a right of all society that must be protected, because it gives people the opportunity to elect and be elected as leaders.