Reaction to PDIP Criticism: It's Heartbreaking, but It Saves Me

President Prabowo Subianto admitted that he sometimes feels sad about criticisms voiced by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) which chose to stay outside the government. The remarks were made during his speech at the 19th Plenary Meeting of the DPR RI Session V, 2025-2026, at Nusantara Hall, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

“Sometimes, before I sleep at night, my heart is heavy,” Prabowo said. “These PDIP members sometimes criticise very harshly.”

However, he stressed that he is not anti-criticism. Over time he realised that the criticisms may have merit.

“I understand that perhaps there is substance to it. There’s a proverb that says when someone reminds you, even if you dislike being warned, they are actually saving you. So I thank you, I honour your sacrifice,” he added.

He expressed gratitude and respect for PDIP’s decision to be outside the government. He said a healthy democracy absolutely requires a check-and-balance mechanism. He praised PDIP’s move as a form of political sacrifice to uphold the dignity of democracy, noting that being outside the government means foregoing various state facilities.

“Not all parties here are part of the government. And I respect and value that. Our democracy needs check and balances. I understand that PDIP sacrifices to stay outside the government. Actually I would like to thank PDIP. You have rendered a service to our democracy,” he said.

Prabowo even joked that as president, he actually longs for a gotong royong system, in which all political parties join his administration.

“If all parties were in government, how sweet that would be. How sweet it would be for me. But perhaps that would not be good. Every leader must be prepared to be criticised, every executive must be supervised. Thank you for your oversight, fellow citizens,” he continued.

(Plenary point) Prabowo reaffirmed his commitment to building a clean and professional government by accelerating bureaucratic reform and eradicating corruption.

Prabowo urged citizens to use their mobile phones to record and report security personnel found as protectors or backers of various illegal practices.

The Plenary Session agenda includes the Macro-Economic Framework and the Core Fiscal Policy and the RAPBN 2027, presented directly by President Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo attended the plenary session at the Indonesian DPR complex discussing the economic and fiscal framework.

His direct attendance at the next-day DPR plenary was seen as a significant political and economic signal amid current economic pressures.

According to him, market players will watch how strongly the government can provide confidence in fiscal stability and debt management.

The Palace explained the reasons Prabowo delivered the RAPBN 2027 at the DPR to unite the nation’s strength.

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