Prabowo: My Heart Is Heavy Because PDIP's Criticism Is Very Harsh

President Prabowo Subianto said that criticisms from cadres of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP, made him sad. ‘Late at night before going to sleep, my heart aches because PDIP members sometimes criticise very harshly,’ Prabowo said at the House of Representatives building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

This General Chairman of the Gerindra Party said that, gradually, he realised that criticisms from PDIP members had certain reasons. Therefore, Prabowo expressed gratitude and considered it a sacrifice worthy of respect. ‘There is a saying that if someone reminds us, even if we do not like being warned, they are in fact saving us,’ said the former Defence Minister.

Prabowo also said that democracy requires oversight and balance or the principle of checks and balances. He praised PDIP’s contributions to democracy in Indonesia.

At the DPR plenary meeting, Prabowo read the Macro Economic Framework of Core Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF) for the Draft State Budget (RAPBN) 2027. The chairmen of the party leaders supporting the government attended the forum. Among them were Golkar Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia, NasDem Chairman Surya Paloh, President of the Justice and Prosperity Party Al Muzzammil Yusuf, Chairman of the National Mandate Party Zulkifli Hasan, and Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

The Speaker of the DPR, who is also the daughter of PDIP’s general chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, Puan Maharani, also attended. Prabowo hopes all political parties can join the government he leads. ‘My aim is for us to work together in a spirit of gotong royong,’ Prabowo said. ‘If all parties were in government, that would be very sweet for me, but perhaps not good.’

According to Prabowo, the executive power requires oversight from other institutions. ‘Every leader must be willing to be criticised. Thank you for the oversight, colleagues,’ he said.