Prabowo urges constitutional path for leadership change

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto said leadership change must follow constitutional channels, as debate intensifies over calls for his removal.

Prabowo Subianto. Instagram/presidenrepublikindonesia

JAKARTA —  Addressing cabinet members, senior officials and state enterprise leaders at the presidential palace on Wednesday (April 8, 2026), Prabowo said dissatisfaction with a government should be resolved through lawful and peaceful means.

“If a government is considered not good, then replace it through proper mechanisms, peacefully,” he said.

He pointed to Indonesia’s democratic framework, which allows transitions through elections or impeachment, provided they proceed through established institutions including parliament and the courts.

“You can do it through elections, no problem. It can also be through impeachment, but it must go through the proper institutions,” he said.

Prabowo also invoked Indonesia’s political history, noting that leadership changes involving Sukarno, Suharto and Abdurrahman Wahid were ultimately resolved without large-scale violence.

His remarks follow controversy over comments by political analyst Saiful Mujani, who had called for public consolidation to remove Prabowo from office.

Mujani later said his statement should be seen as political engagement rather than treason, arguing that expressing views on government performance is protected under the constitution.

“Political participation is the essence of democracy,” he said, adding that peaceful efforts to replace a president — including through elections or public pressure — are part of democratic practice.

He acknowledged that impeachment through parliament would be difficult under current conditions, but suggested public mobilization could serve as an alternative, drawing parallels with past political movements.

The remarks have drawn criticism from several government figures and pro-government groups, who warned against actions seen as unconstitutional.

Separately, a group led by Kurniawan said it plans to file a police report against Mujani and another commentator, accusing them of inciting attempts to overthrow the government.

Kurniawan said the report, expected to be filed on Friday, would cite provisions under Indonesia’s criminal code related to actions against the state.