Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto, concurrently chairman of the Gerindra Party, emphasized the need for criticisms directed at the government to be grounded in factual evidence rather than personal grudges.
"We need to realize that all political groups share the same goals, and all of them want to give the best for the Indonesian people," he remarked during a speech at the 17th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party event at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC) here on Saturday.
In his speech, Prabowo underscored that Indonesia's democratic system possesses unique features and does not need to conform to the standards set by other countries.
"From the start, I believe our democracy is unique to Indonesia," Prabowo affirmed.
He also pointed out that some foreign academics often underestimate Indonesian democracy, presuming that the way democracy works in their countries is the best.
However, he clarified that solutions effective in other countries may not necessarily be appropriate for Indonesia.
Prabowo expressed that Indonesian democracy should strive to prevent conflicts among rival political factions.
He noted that numerous nations with abundant natural resources struggle to develop as their leaders fail to work together and sometimes even become corrupt.
"Some countries see democracy as a source of conflict, but in reality, our democracy should not be hostile towards political opponents," he stated.
On that occasion, Prabowo also acknowledged that differing viewpoints are a normal aspect of a democratic society.
He further stated that after elections, both winning and losing parties must stay united for the country's good. He emphasized that not every party needs to participate in governance, and those outside can still be recognized as people who love their country.
