Prabowo Recalls Four Presidential Election Defeats: 'But I Never Disturbed the Mandated Leader'

President Prabowo Subianto has once again recounted his political journey, noting that he lost the Presidential Election four times. Despite this, Prabowo stressed that he never once disturbed the leader who received the mandate from the people. He made these remarks at the KSTI 2026 National Sarasehan event at JCC Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday, 26 June 2026. “As a political leader, I was chosen democratically. I went to the people five times to ask for a mandate, and four times I was not given the mandate. Four times I lost, but I did not disturb the leader who got the mandate,” said Prabowo. Prabowo then thanked the academics present for not laughing at him when he brought up his presidential election defeats. He admitted that he is usually laughed at whenever he recounts his electoral losses. “Thank you, because usually when I say I lost four times, the audience laughs. This is Indonesia; losing is actually sad,” he said. On that occasion, Prabowo also explained that the Indonesian nation has agreed to live together as a country where the sovereignty of the people reigns. The manifestation of people’s sovereignty is democracy, where leadership is appointed through elections. “The manifestation of democracy is elections. We understand, 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 a fuss, the losers make a fuss. When will we move towards prosperity for our people?” he explained. “Is that not our duty as children of the nation? As leaders? As the smartest people in this country? Is it not? All our intelligence must be dedicated to our poorest and weakest people. Is it not?” concluded Prabowo.