TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prabowo Subianto's long-term bid for presidency is a known anecdote for Indonesians, as he failed multiple times before being elected in 2024. According to Prabowo, his ambition was born after witnessing how Indonesia moves in the wrong direction since the '90s.
Many questioned his persistent pursuit of the presidency, Prabowo said. "'Prabowo really wants to become president,' as I've heard analysts and podcasters said," the president stated during a speech in Bandar Lampung on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, as reported by the Presidential Secretariat.
Prabowo shared how he failed his first presidency bid in 2004, and later his attempt to become vice president in 2009 and president in two consecutive election periods in 2014 and 2019.
The head of state said his multiple presidential bids were not for nothing, as the former Defense Minister believed that Indonesia had been off course for years. "I want to become a president because I have seen since the 90s that Indonesia has been heading in the wrong direction. I have seen it," he expressed.
In the 1990s, Prabowo was still serving in the Indonesian military. He remained an active-duty soldier until being discharged in 1998. This period also witnessed various historical events, from the Asian monetary crisis, the resignation of former president Soeharto, the Timor Leste independence referendum, to the first amendment of the 1945 Constitution.
Prabowo delivered this speech at the 18th Hipmi National Conference held at Novotel Hotel Bandar Lampung, Lampung Province, on June 10-11, 2026. The conference raised the theme "The Synergy of Young Entrepreneurs Building National Economic Strength."
The event also served as the election for the Hipmi Chair for the 2026-2029 period, with four candidates: Ade Jona Prasetyo, Anthony Leong, Reynaldo Bryan, and Afifuddin Kalla.
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