Prabowo: Indonesia's Wrong Direction Since 1990s Drove My Presidential Ambitions

President Prabowo Subianto believes Indonesia has been heading in the wrong direction since the 1990s, a conviction that has fueled his persistent pursuit of the presidency. Addressing attendees at the HIPMI National Conference in Bandar Lampung, Prabowo explained that this perception of a misguided national trajectory is the primary reason he has run for president multiple times.

"I want to be president because I have seen since the 90s that Indonesia is heading in the wrong direction. I have seen it," Prabowo stated, recalling his time in the Indonesian military during that decade. He has faced electoral defeat four times: in the 2004 Golkar presidential convention, as vice president in 2009, and as president in 2014 and 2019, before ultimately winning the 2024 presidential election.

Prabowo emphasized that his repeated candidacies were not solely about attaining office but stemmed from a deep-seated belief that the nation's course needed correction. The conference itself, held in Bandar Lampung from June 10-11, 2026, focused on "Synergy of Young Entrepreneurs Building National Economic Strength" and included the election of a new HIPMI chairman for the 2026-2029 period.

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I want to be president because I have seen since the 90s that Indonesia is heading in the wrong direction. I have seen it.