PPI Boss: Prabowo's DPR Speech Confirms Good Relations with Megawati
President Prabowo Subianto praised PDIP and PDIP chair Megawati during a speech at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta. Is there a meaning behind it?
Adi Prayitno, Executive Director of Parameter Politik Indonesia (PPI), offered his analysis. He said the speech underscored that the relationship between Prabowo and Megawati is fine.
“First, this further confirms that Prabowo has a good relationship with Megawati. Not as the public imagined that their relationship was strained. The evidence is that, at a key moment during his speech before the DPR/MPR, it was stated openly,” Adi told reporters on Wednesday (20 May 2026).
According to him, Prabowo’s political doctrine is one of ‘friendship politics’. The political message from the speech is that Prabowo intends to nurture the camaraderie with Megawati even though they are currently in opposition.
“Second, Prabowo does not forget the history of the friendship with Megawati, who is currently outside power. Perhaps during PDIP’s period in power, and Prabowo as the opposition, Mega still helped Prabowo’s economy. Usually opposition parties are marginalised, but Megawati treated Prabowo well,” he said.
Adi regards Prabowo and Megawati’s attitude toward the project winner, despite the opposition party background, as correct. “But the aspects of professionalism, propriety, and fitness without regard to political position. This is a political view that is fair and upholds professionalism above all else,” he added.
Reportedly, during his speech at the DPR’s plenary session, Prabowo said he was helped by Megawati in the economy. Prabowo initially stated that there had been ministers who sought guidance from him because the party with PDIP background won the project.
He said at the time he asked his ministers not to make a fuss about it. “If in government there are many facilities, but you ask, I always say, ministers ask for guidance, ‘Sir how, Sir, there is a project, there is a tender, but behind it is PDIP’, right? Come on, ministers, is that right? But what is my answer? There is no problem, if he wins, he wins, let’s not look at the background,” Prabowo said.
He admitted doing that because Megawati had done the same when in power. He said he was helped in the economic field by Megawati.
“Relax, because when I was not in power, Mrs. Mega also helped me in the economy. No, I want to be open, I wasn’t in power at that time, i.e., I was adrift, Megawati Soekarnoputri intervened saying ‘if indeed Prabowo wins the tender, do not disrupt it, continue’. I now follow her example,” he said.
At the same time, Prabowo also expressed special thanks to PDIP for choosing to operate outside the government. Only one faction in the DPR is outside the coalition, namely PDIP; Prabowo respects PDIP’s political position.
“Indeed not every party here is part of the government, and I respect and value that; our democracy needs checks and balances. I understand and appreciate that PDIP sacrifices to be outside the government,” he said.
Because of that political position, Prabowo thanked PDIP. Although Prabowo wants cooperation with all parties, there is a need for a balancing force in parliament.
“I understand that; really I would like to thank PDIP. You have been instrumental to our democracy; my aim is for a cooperative effort. If all parties were in government, how sweet it would be for me, but perhaps that would not be good; every leader must be willing to be criticised,” he added.