Prabowo's Speech Broadcast at DPRD Retreat Suddenly Cut Off
President Prabowo Subianto delivered guidance to hundreds of DPRD chairs from across Indonesia during a retreat at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, on Saturday, 18 April 2025. Prabowo’s speech was initially broadcast live via the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube account.
At the opening of his speech, Prabowo stated that the regional leadership enhancement course agenda was an important event. He mentioned that his staff had previously informed him that the President’s presence could be represented by a delegate. “But after I learned that all DPRD chairs from across Indonesia are here, I consider it important and appropriate for me to attend in person,” Prabowo said.
He also reminded those present that he wanted to speak plainly, from heart to heart. “Perhaps when I speak later, some may find it displeasing, some may feel offended, some may feel sad,” Prabowo said.
Nevertheless, he continued, he regarded all participants present at the location as patriots. “I assume that I am here with the assumption that we love our homeland, we love our nation, we love our people. Those are my assumptions,” he stated.
The Gerindra Party Chairman said that if the retreat participants were indeed enthusiastic children of the nation awaiting his direction, then he must speak plainly.
However, suddenly, Prabowo mentioned the presence of journalists. “Ladies and gentlemen… are there any journalists here? Huh? None? Are there journalists? Have they left? They’ve left, yes?” Prabowo asked.
Prabowo then questioned the cameras recording him. “Are those our own cameras? Yes? Oh, sorry, journalists. Because there are issues in the world right now, we don’t understand the interests…”
Precisely after Prabowo uttered the word “interests,” the live broadcast was switched off, and Prabowo’s remarks were cut short. The Head of State’s guidance session at the retreat event continued in a closed manner.
The National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) held the retreat for hundreds of DPRD chairs from 15 to 19 April 2026 at the Military Academy in Magelang. Retreats are frequently conducted during the Prabowo Subianto administration. Previously, retreats were also mandatory for ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet and regional heads.
This retreat agenda invited 557 DPRD Chairs across Indonesia. The details include 38 Provincial DPRD Chairs, 93 City DPRD Chairs, and 415 Regency DPRD Chairs.
Eleven officials from the Association of Regency DPRD Chairs across Indonesia were also included in this retreat. However, only 479 out of the total 557 DPRD Chairs were recorded as attending the retreat.