Prabowo: I Like to Lead a Country with Facts

President Prabowo Subianto has asserted that he leads based on facts. He made the statement during a briefing before 150 researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in the grounds of the Merdeka Palace on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

Prabowo began by stressing that a nation’s development is determined by its mastery of science and technology. According to him, if a nation is able to master science and technology, that nation will advance.

“We all understand that a nation’s development is determined by whether that nation is able to master science and technology or not. So, a nation that is able to master science and technology will advance rapidly. The key is science and technology,” said Prabowo.

“This is a fact and a reality. From the mastery of science and technology, education is of course the most critical, most critical foundation,” he continued.

Prabowo stressed that he leads a country based on facts. However, he did not deny that facts do not always end in pleasure.

“When I lead, I like to lead with facts, facts, reality, with the actual situation. Sometimes the facts are unpleasant. Sometimes looking at reality is unpleasant, to be frank,” he said.

He gave the example that Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world. However, Prabowo admitted he was saddened that Indonesia could not compete in the World Cup.

“Just a small example, we are a country with the fourth largest population in the world, 300 – well, almost 300 million, 287 million people. But I am very sad, to be frank, that on the matter of football alone we are unable to qualify for the World Cup,” said Prabowo.

According to him, this is an uncomfortable fact. He even said that the country of Cape Verde is probably only the size of Sumedang Regency.

“This is an unpleasant fact. How can a small country like Cape Verde qualify? I don’t know, perhaps its population compared to Sumedang Regency – Sumedang might have more people. Cape Verde, not to mention many other small countries that have qualified,” he said.