SBY: Many Leaders Tend To Be Tempted To Extend Their Power

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) mentioned a leader who is hungry for power in a book review organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo on Friday, March 7.

According to SBY, many leaders tend to be tempted to extend their term of office. All means, he said, would be taken to perpetuate power, including changing the constitution.

"My own observations, if political leaders are hungry for power, tempted by power, around the global, many leaders, presidents, prime ministers, anyone, tend or are tempted to prolong their power, change the constitution, increase their term of office, period or term," said SBY in the activities that took place in a hybrid, offline and online manner. that.

SBY said that some of these steps were successful and failed. Because according to him, absolute strength in essence is always rejected anywhere.

For example, continued SBY, the rebellion that occurred in several Arab and North African countries in the early 2010s or known as Arab Spring. Power collapsed due to resistance from the community.

"Why did it fall out? Because there was a public resistance, mostly from students, from middle class, intellectuals who happened to be unemployed, no job. Then the economy was bad, suddenly saw political leaders have absolute, absolute power, there was public resistance and could not survive," he said.

In essence, said SBY, this story reminds again that the greater power will actually cause problems.

"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power tend to corrupt absolutely. That's a warning to anyone who is holding power," said the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia for that period.

The chairman of the Democratic Party's High Council also strongly forbade the abuse of power in the state. According to SBY, this should be obtained legally by following the constitution and democracy.

"Do not exercise abuse of power or abuse of power. Power must be obtained legally. Follow the constitution, follow democratic way to gain power," he said.

Even after that power is held, it should be used as well as possible.

"After power is obtained, also use it properly. The exercise of power matters. If you know the constitution, know the law, knowing democratic values will prevent him from abusing his power," concluded SBY.