Prabowo: Pancasila Not Just a Historical Document but a Guiding Principle
President Prabowo Subianto stressed that Pancasila should not be viewed merely as a historical document or a slogan recited during state ceremonies. He stated that Pancasila must serve as a guiding principle in daily life.
This was conveyed by Prabowo while presiding over the 81st anniversary commemoration of Pancasila’s birth at the Pancasila Building in Jakarta on Monday, 1 June 2026.
In his speech, Prabowo said Pancasila emerged from Indonesia’s historical journey, experiences, culture, and national aspirations. Therefore, the state ideology represents a broad consensus capable of uniting a nation of thousands of islands, hundreds of ethnic groups, languages, and cultures.
‘Pancasila did not arise from a vacuum; it was born from Indonesia’s own historical experiences, culture and aspirations,’ Prabowo stated.
He added that Pancasila is a grand consensus, a national agreement allowing Indonesia’s diverse population of thousands of islands, hundreds of ethnicities, languages and cultures to coexist as one nation.
Furthermore, Prabowo noted this year’s theme for Pancasila’s birthday commemoration – ‘Pancasila as the Unifier of the Nation and Foundation of World Peace’ – is highly relevant amid global uncertainties.
‘Amid a world increasingly divided by conflicts, geopolitical rivalries, trade wars and economic uncertainty, Indonesia has a firm anchor. That anchor is Pancasila,’ he said.
He also stressed that Pancasila’s values must be applied concretely across all aspects of national development.
‘Brothers and sisters, Pancasila is not merely a historical document. It should not be just a slogan we recite at every ceremony. Pancasila is a guideline for national life, societal life, state life, including how we build our national economic system,’ he emphasised.
During the event, the head of state also highlighted challenges in Indonesia’s economic development. He reminded that recent decades of economic growth need evaluation in terms of equity and justice.
‘One of Indonesia’s major challenges today is ensuring our economic development truly aligns with Pancasila’s principles. Let us always be honest with ourselves. We must acknowledge our weaknesses and difficulties,’ he said.
Prabowo questioned whether past economic growth has been fairly experienced by all Indonesians.
‘For the past few decades, Indonesia’s economy has indeed grown. But has this growth been equitable? Has it been fairly felt by all Indonesians? Let us be honest about the realities we face now,’ he concluded.