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Prabowo: Concerns over regressing democracy made up by press
His victory at the February presidential election, Prabowo said, was evidence that the Indonesian people approved of him.
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Defense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto gestures on May 15, 2024, during a session at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha. Prabowo is still more focused on how to honor his campaign promises than on the formation of a cabinet, according to an aide. (AFP/Karim Jaafar)
P
resident-elect Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday denied his critics’ concerns that his incoming leadership may negatively affect the country’s democracy, asserting that such claims were made up by the press.
His victory in the February presidential election, he said, was evidence that the Indonesian people approved of him.
On the second leg of his Middle East trip this week, Prabowo, whose contentious victory was confirmed by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in late March, took to the stage of the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha to discuss his leadership values and plans for Indonesia’s economy once he takes office in October.
Prabowo, in a live on-stage interview with Bloomberg, was asked to respond to his critics’ concerns that his leadership would indicate the further regression of democracy, to which Prabowo responded with a chuckle before asking back, “Who [exactly] is concerned?”.
“Why don’t you ask the Indonesian people? I [have been] to elections four times already. I go to my people. I asked [for] their consent. Three times they did not give their consent. This time they [did],” Prabowo said.
“Where are the concerns about democracy? The concerns about democracy are, I think, made up by people in the press” he continued.
Leadership styles differ depending on a country’s history and culture, the retired army general said, adding that he was determined to “work very hard” to prove himself to the people and leave a good legacy.
