Praise for President Prabowo; Puan: PDIP's criticisms are constructive
Speaker of the House of Representatives and chair of the DPP PDI Perjuangan (PDIP), Puan Maharani, responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s address, which expressed appreciation for PDIP’s position outside the government. She said the party’s balancing role would always be carried out within measured corridors to safeguard state policy.
According to Puan, all forms of views or criticisms that PDIP may offer in the future are not aimed at bringing the government down, but rather constructive inputs to ensure executive programmes remain oriented towards the people’s interests.
‘Thank you; of course we very much appreciate that the support and actions of PDIP will always be conducted in ways that, as the President said, allow us to provide input or constructive criticism so that the government can implement its programmes and policies to the greatest extent for the welfare of the people,’ Puan said at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (21/5).
Puan added that the public should not interpret the party’s out-of-government stance as negative opposition. ‘Thus, the criticisms are constructive and are meant to build, not to be negative, but to provide positive input,’ she added.
When asked about the parliamentary political dynamics, where PDIP’s faction must contend with seven other factions aligning with the government coalition, Puan rejected the view that her party’s oversight function would weaken. She said the legislative oversight is not measured by the number of factions, but by the weight of the substantive input voiced.
‘This is not about one against seven; rather, what we provide as input is input that is constructive,’ Puan said.
Puan emphasised that the dynamics in Parliament is not a stage for win-lose competition, but a space of check and balances to perfect the governance workflow. ‘So, it’s not about winning or losing, but about providing input for improvements,’ she concluded. (Faj/P-3)
She also noted that the role of the private sector in economic growth is beginning to be visible, though not yet fully optimal.
She praised PDIP’s steps as a form of ‘political sacrifice’ to safeguard the democratic ethos, noting that being outside government means foregoing various state facilities.
The piece also mentions a CNN survey by SSRS indicating most respondents were satisfied with the US President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, though expressing doubts about his ability to curb living costs. (This line is odd; included as-is.)
Anti-corruption attitudes must be shown in daily behaviour, especially amid conditions where people struggle to find work.
All aspects outlined in the president’s speech carry substantial weight.