President Prabowo Praises Democratic Party's Calmness Out of Power

President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia praised the Democratic Party for maintaining its composure and avoiding destructive criticism when out of power, during his attendance at the party's 25th anniversary celebration in Jakarta on September 9th. Prabowo drew parallels to his own four electoral defeats, stating that he accepted each loss and continued to strive, highlighting the importance of tolerance in Indonesian democracy. "There are various colors, competing, criticizing, offering suggestions, conveying recommendations, and sometimes things that are uncomfortable to say, but we remain peaceful, friendly, and like family. This is what we must hold on to," the President emphasized. He also acknowledged Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono's (AHY) remarks about the party's past periods of victory and non-victory, commending the leadership of former President and Democratic Party Honorary Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Prabowo also touched upon his and SBY's shared background as military personnel, emphasizing their common path of service to the nation. "We understand that the military belongs to the people, and if we want to continue to serve in the political field, we must conduct politics through democracy," he stated. He noted that SBY founded the Democratic Party after his retirement and served two terms as president, mirroring Prabowo's own path of establishing the Gerindra Party post-military service and running for president. The President expressed gratitude for the Democratic Party's support in the 2019 and 2024 presidential elections, particularly mentioning SBY's active campaigning efforts, and underscored their shared ideals and principles. Source: Liputan6