President Yudhoyono said strongmen could pose threats to democracy because they were likely to turn into authoritarian rulers or dictators.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stated that democracy needs strong systems and institutions, and there should be no place for strongmen in a democratic state.
The President made the statement while issuing directives during a limited cabinet meeting that discussed a draft law on government administration at the Presidential Office here on Thursday.
"Some say that strong institutions need strongmen. A democratic state actually needs strong institutions, a good system and a stable government which follows the system and the rules. It definitely does not need a strongman," the head of state said.
"If there are strong institutions, a well-running system and a stable government, the state would also remain stable and the government will be able to carry out its tasks and development activities effectively," he continued.
President Yudhoyono said strongmen could pose threats to democracy because they were likely to turn into authoritarian rulers or dictators.
"A strongman, if not cautious, may become too authoritarian or dictatorial and overturn the democratic system," he noted.
"We have already learnt that lesson from our past experiences," the President added.
In he meantime, when he chaired a limited cabinet meeting on Monday the president referred to legal and security affairs.
Yudhoyono noted that the nation`s social and security condition at home in 2013 should be much better than that in the previous years.
"We have heard from the people at large the social and security condition in 2012 was not encouraging so much. Besides, they said they were not satisfied about the handling of legal and security matters," President Yudhoyono stated.
Therefore he added that the government should immediately respond to what the people have complained about by making evaluation and preparation to do much better in 2013.
Yudhoyono said it was important for the government to make every effective effort to improve the condition of social, law, and security in the country.
"Therefore, the related institutions and the government should work more effectively and seriously in order to make social, law and security condition much better this year," Yudhoyono said.
He added that there should be no doubt in completely handling security issues by the security officials from the lowest to the highest levels.
"On January 28, I will issue an instruction related to the result of this meeting and I want it implemented during 2013 across the country," the president said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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