Dasco says Prabowo's praise for PDIP comes from the bottom of his heart

Jakarta — Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, the acting chairman of the Gerindra Party’s Central Executive Board (DPP) and also Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the appreciation conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) came from the depths of his heart. He said the President’s remarks were sincere in valuing PDIP Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri. Prabowo had expressed thanks for PDIP’s services in his speech at the plenary meeting of the DPR. “The appreciation for what the President said to energise democracy,” Dasco said after attending the DPR plenary session attended by President Prabowo at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday. He said that the criticisms voiced by various members of PDIP’s faction in the DPR are constructive. He said that has been the case since Prabowo’s leadership. “It is a sincere expression and appreciation,” he said. According to Prabowo, PDIP has contributed to safeguarding democracy in Indonesia, because the existence of opposition ensures checks and balances, especially against executive bodies that run the government. “Not all parties here are part of the government, and I respect that; our democracy needs checks and balances. I understand; PDIP sacrifices to be outside the government. I understand that. Actually, I want to say thank you to PDIP. You have contributed to our democracy,” Prabowo told more than 400 members of the DPR and several state officials at the plenary session of the DPR in Nusantara Building, MPR-DPR-DPD complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday.