Dasco says Prabowo sincerely thanks PDI-P for their persistent criticism

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Executive Chairman of the Gerindra Party Sufmi Dasco Ahmad says the statement by President Prabowo Subianto, which expressed appreciation for criticism from the PDI Perjuangan (PDI-P), was a sincere expression. According to Dasco, Prabowo’s remarks when delivering a speech at the DPR RI plenary session were spoken from the deepest part of his heart, both as president and as Gerindra’s chairman. ‘Yes, what the President said obviously we know just now, and if we look at it, it came from the deepest part of his heart,’ Dasco said when asked at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20/5/2026). He said the PDIP’s stance is important to safeguard democracy and the government’s oversight function. ‘And the praise to the PDIP Chairwoman Megawati and to PDIP is a sincere expression. And praise for what was subsequently said by the President to revive democracy,’ he said. ‘And then the constructive criticism that has long been carried out by PDIP friends in Parliament, which has been ongoing during the Prabowo government,’ Dasco said. Earlier it was reported that Prabowo admitted he often felt emotional when receiving strong criticism from PDIP members who are outside the government. This was stated by Prabowo during the plenary DPR session with the macroeconomic framework and main policy for fiscal policy (KEM-PPKF) agenda. ‘Sometimes I feel sad at night before sleep; the PDIP members’ criticisms are sometimes very harsh,’ Prabowo said, which was met with laughter from participants. ‘But I realise over time perhaps there is a basis; there is a saying that if someone reminds us, even though we don’t like warnings, they actually save us, fellow citizens,’ he added. Prabowo also conveyed thanks to the PDI-P for being regarded as playing a role in safeguarding democracy through checks and balances outside the government. ‘Actually I would like to thank the PDI-P. You have contributed to our democracy,’ he said.