Prabowo Praises PDIP, Even as It Often Grieves Him Before Sleep

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto has openly expressed praise and his views regarding the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) choosing to operate outside the government. The moment came as President Prabowo delivered his official speech on the Macroeconomic Framework and the Key Principles of Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF) at the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Prabowo outlined the dynamics of the relationship between the government and the party led by Megawati Sukarnoputri. He also honoured PDIP’s political stance, saying that a balancing party is essential to nurture democracy through oversight and healthy checks and balances. ‘Indeed not all parties here are part of the government, and I respect and value that. Our democracy needs checks and balances. I understand that PDIP sacrifices to be outside the government,’ Prabowo said. ‘I actually want to thank PDIP. You have contributed to our democracy,’ he added. On one hand, the Gerindra party leader did not deny the desire for all political actors to unite in a spirit of gotong royong to build the nation together. On the other hand, he realises that power without oversight can have adverse effects on the country. ‘What I want is for us to work together in gotong royong. If all parties were in government, how sweet that would be. How sweet for me, but perhaps it would not be good. Every leader must be willing to be criticised. Every executive must be overseen,’ he said. ‘Thank you for the oversight, colleagues,’ Prabowo added. ‘Sometimes late at night before sleep, my heart is heavy. These PDIP members sometimes deliver criticisms that are very harsh,’ Prabowo said, eliciting laughter from participants in the DPR building. The former defence minister viewed these criticisms positively. He fully recognises that the oversight function carried out by PDIP plays a crucial role as an instrument guiding the government’s operations.