Prabowo Subianto, the current President of Indonesia and successor to President Joko Widodo, delivered a strong criticism of neoliberal economic theory during his speech at the 27th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB). He challenged the belief that wealth concentrated at the top will eventually benefit the wider population, labeling it as a myth that has never come to fruition. According to Prabowo, the true purpose of the state, as outlined in Article 33 of the Constitution, is to ensure the safety and prosperity of its people, eliminating poverty and hunger. He emphasized the importance of democratic ideals, but highlighted that they hold no value if citizens continue to face basic hardships. Referring to the economic spirit of the 1945 Constitution, Prabowo pointed out Article 33, which advocates for an economy based on mutual cooperation and familial solidarity rather than corporate conglomerates. This approach contradicts neoliberalism, which justifies inequality under the belief that wealth will eventually trickle down to everyone. Prabowo firmly rejected this notion, stating that the trickle-down effect takes far too long to benefit the masses. His speech reaffirmed his commitment to a people-centered economy, focusing on inclusive economic policies and rejecting models that perpetuate inequality.
