September 17, 2026 | 02:25 pm
The coalition supporting Prabowo Subianto is beginning to face signs of division. It is time for political parties to listen to the people’s voice.
THE speech by Democrat Party General Chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono on September 5, 2026, was nothing out of the ordinary. Yet amid the current uniformity of political positions, the address made the Democrat Party stand out from other political parties. The speech, delivered at the party’s anniversary celebration, appeared to signal an evaluation of its role in President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
In his speech, Agus said the people were facing real pressures. There are not enough quality jobs. The burden of living costs is becoming heavier. Meanwhile, economic opportunities and the quality of basic services remain uneven across many regions. He also urged every Democrat Party cadre to pursue three party agendas: advancing the economy, upholding justice, and safeguarding democracy in the interests of the people.
The three agendas Agus mentioned have become increasingly blurred under the Prabowo administration. Yet it is impossible to expect Agus to openly criticize the government. The Democrat Party is part of the coalition supporting Prabowo. Agus also holds a seat in the Red and White Cabinet as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. He even issued a clarification when he opened the main event commemorating the Democrat Party’s 25th anniversary four days later. Agus reaffirmed his party’s support for Prabowo.
Over the past two years, many government measures have created serious problems for the national economy. Repression, including by law enforcement agencies, has also increased. Meanwhile, the military’s role has been expanded into civilian spheres. Rather than safeguarding democracy, Prabowo and the political party elites supporting him are instead building an autocratic regime.
It is understandable that Agus’ statement immediately sparked controversy among the elites of political parties supporting the government. Some politicians viewed the speech as an act of defiance. Others linked it to the Democrat Party’s mission ahead of the 2029 political year. Whatever Agus’ motives, political parties should indeed reconsider their existence and function.
Recent research by several polling organizations has shown that the electability of nearly all political parties in the Onward Indonesia Coalition has fallen sharply, alongside a steep decline in public satisfaction with the programs of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The same has even happened to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), a party that has done little despite being outside the government’s ranks.
This situation should make political party elites realize that their future is at stake. Public trust in the political system is at an all-time low. Meanwhile, Prabowo has yet to show signs of evaluating and improving many of his administration’s problematic policies.
The question is, which party will be the first to recognize its mistakes and listen to the people’s voice again?
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono’s speech certainly does not immediately indicate that the Democrat Party will take on that role. Numerous political studies have shown that critical stances among political elites within a coalition do not necessarily succeed in weakening an autocratic regime. Instead, autocratic power in the Americas, Africa, and Europe has actually grown stronger after neutralizing internal criticism, either through the distribution of economic spoils or repression.
With a militaristic style of government and political parties lacking ideology, Prabowo will apparently have little difficulty doing the same. If so, it is the wider public that needs to prepare to fight for change.
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