Budi Arie Sparks Early Election Speculation, PSI Distances Itself

The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) has reacted angrily to a viral video of former cooperatives minister Budi Arie Setiadi outlining a scenario for accelerating the general election. The party has demanded that he stop dragging PSI’s name into the matter.

“We emphasise that Budi Arie is not part of PSI. Full stop. Therefore, stop dragging PSI’s name into any of Budi Arie’s actions, statements, or affairs,” said PSI deputy chairman Andy Budiman on Tuesday (25/8/2026).

Andy Budiman stressed that Budi Arie is not a PSI member, not a PSI official, and not the secretary-general of PSI’s central executive board.

Previously, a video recording circulated on social media showing Budi Arie speaking alongside Indonesia’s seventh president Joko Widodo about the possibility of political momentum and the election taking place sooner than scheduled.

The statement drew public attention and sparked various speculation about the direction of national politics. Jokowi currently also serves as chairman of PSI’s board of trustees. As of the time this report was published, Budi Arie had not responded to Republika’s attempts to seek confirmation.

According to Andy, linking Budi Arie’s actions or statements to PSI is baseless and misleading.

“Whatever Budi Arie does or says is his own responsibility. Do not link it to PSI and do not create the impression that he represents PSI. He does not represent PSI. He is not PSI,” Andy asserted.

Andy called on all parties to stop speculating about Budi Arie’s position in PSI.

“PSI’s position is clear and requires no interpretation. Budi Arie is not a member, not an official, not the secretary-general, and not part of PSI. Do not drag PSI into matters that are not PSI’s affairs,” Andy said.

“Just because he was reshuffled, he should not become bitter and play politics of pitting Mr Jokowi against President Prabowo,” he added.

“The public also has not forgotten that during the Projo Congress, Budi Arie stated that Projo is not an abbreviation of Pro Jokowi. PSI does not need political adventurers who wander around playing speculative manoeuvres. Politics is an arena of struggle, not a personal gambling arena to chase a ministerial post again!” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party stressed that it is not affected by the statement made by Projo chairman Budi Arie Setiadi.

Gerindra Party spokesman Sugiat Santoso emphasised that there has been no discussion about the 2029 election within his party. “We are focused on making Mr Prabowo’s programmes successful. There is no discussion about 2029; it is still too far away to discuss,” Sugiat said in a statement in Jakarta, as reported by Antara on Tuesday.

For Gerindra, according to him, safeguarding and overseeing President Prabowo’s programmes is far more important than discussing the 2029 election. Moreover, he considers political discussion still too premature.

On the other hand, he also asked the public to question Budi Arie directly about the statement regarding accelerating the election before 2029.

“Only Budi Arie himself knows what he meant. Please ask the person concerned. We are not affected,” said the deputy chairman of House Commission XIII.

Gerindra, he said, will continue to oversee the Prabowo administration so that the programmes that have been launched can run smoothly and provide real benefits to the public.