Shoring Up the Shield: How the Democratic Party Rallied Behind Prabowo as Public Approval Hits Trough

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Confronting the sharpest slide in public sentiment since taking office, President Prabowo Subianto received a decisive injection of coalition loyalty from one of his most influential governing partners.

At the silver jubilee celebration of the Democratic Party held at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Wednesday night, Sept. 9, 2026, party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) moved forcefully to quash speculation of growing rifts within the ruling bloc. Addressing thousands of party loyalists alongside Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, AHY declared that the party is anchoring its entire political capital behind the head of state.

"The position of the Democrats is clear: we want the administration of President Prabowo Subianto to succeed," AHY said during his keynote address on Wednesday night. "There is nothing else, other than the triumph and success of this government."

The Democratic Party's assertive endorsement serves as a crucial political buffer for Prabowo. Recent surveys by independent pollsters such as Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) and Poltracking show the president's approval numbers tumbling from a post-inauguration peak above 80% to between 51.1% and 55.1%, driven by household cost-of-living concerns and stubborn commodity inflation. With the administration's political honeymoon officially over, maintaining unbroken discipline across legislative and cabinet partners is paramount to prevent policy stall.

Clearing the Air on Coalition Fractures

AHY used the gathering to explicitly clear up remarks made four days earlier at Democratic headquarters that had triggered media speculation of an impending coalition rupture or premature maneuvers toward the 2029 election. The party leader explained that his prior speech was purely internal reflection to steel party cadre discipline.

"When the government succeeds in moving Indonesia forward, the ones who succeed are not just the president, not just the cabinet, not just the parties within the government," AHY emphasized on Wednesday. "Rather, the ones who succeed are all of us; the one that succeeds is Indonesia."

Welcoming Dissent as Democratic Muscle

Prabowo, for his part, welcomed the dialogue. Speaking without a teleprompter, the president openly acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding the alliance and framed the exchange as a marker of political maturity.

"Indeed, yesterday some quarters judged Pak AHY's speech a few days ago to be sharp criticism," Prabowo said during his address on Wednesday night. "However, ladies and gentlemen, a great nation that has chosen the democratic path must be thankful for criticism and correction."

Prabowo added that healthy governance requires room for disagreement without collapsing institutional unity.

"This is Indonesian democracy. And today, on this stage, yes, this is Indonesian democracy," Prabowo told the audience. "Diverse colors. Competing, criticizing, conveying advice, offering recommendations. Stating things that might be uncomfortable to hear, but we remain in harmony, remain friends, remain one family."

Candid Banter and Academy Ties

The president also injected a candid dose of humor into the high-stakes evening, waving a dense policy briefing prepared by his aides to explain why he chose to speak off-the-cuff instead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, indeed I am always reminded by my staff, 'Sir, please use the text, Sir. Do not deviate from the text,'" Prabowo quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd. "The text is very good, with many charts and graphics. But I believe I will summarize the essence. Hopefully I do not misspeak. Though if we make mistakes, we simply apologize."

Prabowo then turned to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), celebrating both his 77th birthday and his legacy in leading the Democrats. Recalling their shared days entering the Military Academy in 1970, Prabowo poked fun at their differing academic records.

"I was in the same class as Pak SBY at the Military Academy. We entered in the same class, but I graduated with the class below," Prabowo said. "From the very beginning, it was obvious that Pak SBY was the best cadet. But Prabowo Subianto was a cadet who could be improved."

A Shared Blueprint for Power and Restraint

Prabowo commended SBY and the Democratic Party for modeling constructive behavior while in opposition, contrasting their restraint with destructive street protests.

"Pak SBY, your party, as Mas AHY mentioned, has won and has lost. You were at the pinnacle, and you were not at the pinnacle. You were in government, and you were outside," Prabowo remarked. "Yet when out of power, the Democratic Party did not curse. The Democratic Party did not burn things down."

Reflecting on his four previous failed presidential bids before securing victory in 2024, Prabowo credited SBY's post-military career for providing a democratic blueprint.

"When I did not win four times, I accepted it as well. Very well, we push forward again," Prabowo said on Wednesday. "Pak SBY set the example: retire, leave the military, build a party, stand before the people to seek a mandate. Four times the people did not grant me the mandate, but eventually, they did."

Prabowo expressed gratitude for the Democrats' steadfast backing during the 2019 and 2024 presidential campaigns, noting that SBY personally campaigned alongside him due to their shared values on civilian governance.

"We internalize deeply that the military belongs to the people, and if we wish to continue serving and dedicating ourselves in politics, we must conduct that politics through democracy," Prabowo said.

Deploying Party Muscle for Policy Delivery

Operationally, AHY underscored that the Democrats will act as an active delivery engine for the cabinet rather than a passive onlooker.

"As part of the government, the Democrats do not wish merely to stand on the sidelines. We want to be part of the solution," AHY declared. "We do not merely want to point out problems, but we want to work alongside to resolve them."

AHY pledged the party's muscle toward executing the administration's signature social safety programs, including the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) drive, village cooperatives, and the nationwide school rehabilitation agenda. On urban affairs, AHY promoted the Indonesia ASRI program, tying environmental cleanup to regional economic productivity.

"If the objective is good for the people, good for Indonesia, and good for our earth and our environment, then we do not merely wish to applaud," AHY concluded. "We want to join in the work and do our part."

The show of unity closed with senior coalition figures in attendance, including People's Consultative Assembly Chairman Ahmad Muzani and House Speaker Puan Maharani, demonstrating that despite waning poll ratings, Prabowo’s governing coalition remains firmly consolidated.