Prabowo: I Lost Four Presidential Elections, Never Disturbed the Victorious Leader

President Prabowo Subianto discussed statecraft at the National Sarasehan Convention on Science, Technology, and Industry in Jakarta on Friday (26/6/2026), attended by over 2,600 academics from rectors to lecturers. Prabowo stated that a developed nation is supported by a united elite, citing the many wars currently occurring around the world. “We see what is happening in Gaza, in Palestine, in Lebanon; 90 per cent of Gaza has been flattened. The consequences are perhaps similar to Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Lebanon is now like that. Iran, all the Gulf states, Yemen. We see it every day,” Prabowo said. “The war in Afghanistan, the war in Pakistan, the war in Myanmar is getting worse… The war between the Thai and the Cambodians. Brothers and sisters, amidst all this, the key is, among other things, an elite that cannot cooperate.” On that occasion, Prabowo also recounted that he had lost four times in presidential and vice-presidential elections. However, despite being in a losing position, he stressed that he never disturbed the winning leader. “As a political leader, I was chosen democratically. I went before the people five times to ask for a mandate. Four times I was not given the mandate. Four times I lost, but I did not disturb the leader who received the mandate,” he said. Prabowo explained that Indonesia has agreed to live under popular sovereignty in the form of democracy. For this reason, even if the conditions faced are not in line with the wishes of a few parties, they should not create a commotion in order to achieve the people’s welfare. “We may not be satisfied. But what is the alternative? Do we want chaos? After every election there is chaos, every election there is chaos, the losers make noise, the losers make noise. When will we move towards prosperity for our people? Isn’t that our duty as children of the nation, as leaders, as the smartest people in this country?” Prabowo said passionately. “Shouldn’t all our intelligence be dedicated to our poorest and weakest people? Isn’t that so? Please, if anyone has a different opinion,” continued the chairman of the Gerindra Party.