Prabowo Will Not Interfere in PDIP Project Tenders, Provided They Are Won Fairly

President Prabowo Subianto has said he will not disrupt tender projects won by people affiliated with PDIP, provided the winning was achieved in the proper manner. He stated his commitment to running tenders cleanly and to respect the results regardless of the background of the tender winner. ‘If you ask me, ministers are asked for guidance on a project, on a tender, “but this is PDIP’s backing,” right? Come on, ministers, that’s right, but what is my answer? “It doesn’t matter.” If he wins, he wins; don’t look at his background,’ Prabowo said at the Plenary Session, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20/5). Prabowo said he will not intervene at all during the tender as long as it proceeds according to procedure. He also recalled the role of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri when he was adrift at the time. Prabowo noted that Megawati once played an important role in his economy. ‘Mrs Mega also helped me in the economy. I want to be open; I wasn’t in power then, i.e., I was adrift. Mrs Meg Sukarnoputri intervened and said, “if Prabowo really wins the tender, don’t interfere, continue,”’ he said. ‘I now follow her example. I am now president; we must not look at political background; if he wins legitimately, we should give it.’ At the same time, Prabowo also thanked PDIP for continuing to play the role of opposition. He said democracy still requires the opposition to maintain checks and balances in the government. Prabowo quipped that personally he would like all political parties to join his governing coalition. However, he admitted that such conditions would not be beneficial to the continuity of democracy. ‘Every leader must be prepared to be criticised; every executive must be watched; thank you for the oversight,’ he said. Prabowo’s speech at the DPR RI Plenary Session today outlined the ‘Macro Economic Framework and Key Policies of Fiscal Policy (KEMPPKF) for the RAPBN for the 2027 Fiscal Year’. In his address, the president targeted economic growth of 5.8 percent to 6.5 percent in 2027. In the base assumptions of the KEM PPKF RAPBN 2027, the government also targets inflation at around 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent. In terms of the exchange rate, the rupiah is targeted to be in the range of Rp16,800 to Rp17,500 per US dollar. ‘Our fiscal and monetary strategy must be able to keep our exchange rate stable against world currencies,’ said Prabowo. Regarding the APBN, next year the government targets state revenue at around 11.82 to 12.40 percent of GDP, government expenditure 13.62 to 14.80 percent of GDP, and the deficit kept at 1.8 to 2.4 percent of GDP. ‘We will continue to strive to reduce the deficit,’ said Prabowo. This is the first time the president has presented the KEMPPKF RAPBN before the DPR. The new tradition is being carried out amid volatility in the rupiah’s exchange rate against the dollar and a decline in the IHSG.