Prabowo Denies Concerns About Democracy: It's Just Understanding

Prabowo Subianto/DOK Instagram @prabowo

JAKARTA - President-elect Prabowo Subianto revealed his reasons for repeatedly running for president until he was finally elected in the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres).

In a special talk at the Qatar Economic Forum event, Prabowo said he believed he could do more for the Indonesian people, eliminate poverty, and improve welfare if he became president.

"There is a desire to serve. The desire to serve the people. I grew up in many countries and I see the Indonesian people, many of them are very poor. In my heart, I cannot accept that, especially in today's times, Indonesia is currently a member of the G20, Indonesia is the fourth largest population in the world, this is what encourages me, I want to devote myself, devote my thoughts and use experience, my leadership, I believe I can do more for the lives of the Indonesian people who are better," Prabowo said in response to a question by senior journalist Haslinda Amin at the Qatar Economic Forumdi Doha event, Qatar, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 15.

At that time, Haslinda asked Prabowo's reason for repeatedly running for president, and why it was so important for him to lead Indonesia.

Prabowo also said that he only wanted to pass on good achievements for the people, nation and state. "What do we live for? We live to pass on a good reputation, good name in the history of our country," he said.

In that session, Prabowo also emphasized that he would become himself when he later officially served as president. Prabowo also does not agree with the assumption that many parties think his leadership style will be full of military styles.

I have been out of the military for a long time, maybe more than 25 years. It is not related to anything. I will be myself, as is. That means, I will stick to the principles and values that I believe in, and as a patriot, the main value that I hold firmly is to realize the welfare of the people. The Indonesian people must be safe, no one should be hungry, the Indonesian people must have a good life. This is the dream of every patriot in any country in the world, "said Prabowo.

The President-elect of Indonesia, in the same forum, also answered questions about democracy, including concerns that he would make policies that endanger democracy.

Prabowo, when he heard that, did not agree with this assumption. He emphasized that his participation in the presidential election was concrete evidence that he followed the democratic practices that were running in Indonesia.

"I ran for the presidential election four times. I came to the people, asking for their approval. Three times their presidential election didn't give me that mandate. Where are the concerns about democracy? I think it's just a trick that people make," Prabowo said.

Prabowo said that he is currently determined to work hard so as not to disappoint the people.