President Prabowo Subianto Underscores Grassroot Empowerment as Key to National Progress

President Prabowo Wednesday (06/24) delivers his remarks at the 2026 National Farmers and Fisherfolk Week (PENAS XVII) at the Limboto Sports Center, Gorontalo regency, Gorontalo province. (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

At the main event of the 2026 National Farmers and Fisherfolk Week (PENAS XVII), President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to public welfare, describing it as a guiding principle throughout his decades of service.

“What matters most is whether we have given our all for our nation, our people, and our fellow citizens. That, above all else, is what counts,” the President said in his remarks at the Limboto Sports Center, Gorontalo regency, Gorontalo province, Wednesday (06/24).

According to the President, the primary goal of Indonesia’s independence is to ensure a better life for all its people. To that end, the President said he remains committed to ensuring that the direction of the country’s economic development fully aligns with the interests of the people.

On that occasion, the President also shared his experiences during his tenure as Chair of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI). He recalled that the prevailing economic approach at the time tended to prioritize neoliberal principles, with market mechanisms seen as the primary solution.

“I said to myself, this is a grave mistake. This approach fails to grasp the meaning of a nation, the essence of statehood, and the very purpose of our independence,” he said.

Indonesia’s independence, the President stated, serves a far greater purpose than merely achieving freedom from colonial rule. The President emphasized that the state must ensure its citizens attain a decent standard of living, including access to education and healthcare, as well as adequate housing.

“That is the true purpose of our independence. We did not fight for freedom merely for the sake of being free. What is the point of having the House of Representatives? What is the point of having the Regional Representatives Council?  Why do we sing our national anthem if our people are not prosperous?” he said.

“That is why I am determined to keep fighting. It is why I remain in politics. Even when I lost, I continued to run again and again, because I believe there has not been a significant effort by Indonesia’s elite to empower our people at the grassroots level,” he explained. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/EP)