Denying Early Start for 2029 Election, Ahmad Ali: PSI Started First
The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) has begun warming up its political machinery ahead of the 2029 General Election. Daily Chair of the Central Executive Board (DPP) Ahmad Ali dismissed the notion that his party is moving too early. According to him, PSI is not stealing a start, but rather choosing to work earlier to pursue its target of qualifying for Senayan.
“Now many people say, oh this is PSI? Too early. We are not stealing a start, but rather starting first,” he said. According to him, the term “stealing a start” is inappropriate because the steps taken by PSI do not violate any rules.
Moreover, PSI deliberately began preparations earlier because it still has major work to do, from building structures, facing verification as an election participant, to preparing a winning strategy. “If you have that dream, work earlier,” he said.
PSI’s decision to warm up its party machinery well in advance is inseparable from its experience in the two previous elections. PSI contested the 2019 and 2024 elections, but has not yet succeeded in placing its representatives in the House of Representatives. That failure then became material for evaluation.
Ahmad Ali stated that PSI must “shop for problems” to identify the causes of failure while building a stronger foundation. “We must shop for problems on how to succeed. We are truly serious about (the) 2029 (election),” he said.
According to him, one of PSI’s weaknesses in previous elections was a party structure that was not yet strong. That condition resulted in difficulties finding legislative candidates and building a support base in the regions. Now that condition has changed. PSI is not only pursuing structural completeness to meet administrative requirements, but also building a structure that can be directly used to win the election.
PSI’s consolidation steps began with various organisational agendas. After the PSI Congress in Surakarta, Central Java, on 19–20 July 2025, the party continued consolidation through a logo change from a rose to an elephant.
Consolidation then continued through the PSI National Working Meeting in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on 29–31 January 2026. After that, the organisational agenda moved to the provincial level through regional working meetings, then regional coordination meetings at the regency and city levels, down to the branch level. Ahmad Ali is tasked with ensuring that the structure is truly formed. He has travelled to various regions, including on a political safari with PSI Board of Trustees Chair Joko Widodo.
Ahmad Ali continued that consolidation is not sufficiently carried out through administrative reports. He wants to ensure that the recorded administrators truly exist and work. “Make sure those present are truly the people named in the decree. Not straw men. Not just a phone call, then saying it is done, without ensuring there are actual people,” he said.
According to Ahmad Ali, around 90 percent of PSI’s regional boards have now been formed. Structures at the sub-district level are also said to have reached 90 percent. Meanwhile, provincial-level boards are already complete. “We are optimistic going forward with the formation of structures down to the village level like that,” he said.
What distinguishes PSI’s preparations this time, according to Ahmad Ali, is its orientation. The party structure is not built merely to meet verification requirements as an election participant. PSI has also prepared a winning structure. According to him, the verification structure essentially only ensures that there is a board and members who meet the provisions. After that, the party still has to work hard to win the election.
Therefore, PSI has begun building winning structures in every province. Ahmad Ali mentioned that one provincial winning structure is prepared with 35–40 people. The goal is that after all verification processes are complete, the party does not need to rebuild the organisation from scratch. “So, entering the stage of creating the provincial winning structure, there are already 35–40 people. Because after verification is complete, we go straight away,” he said.
He is optimistic that the structures that have been formed will make PSI better prepared to face the 2029 Election, including if there is a change in the parliamentary threshold. “We are very optimistic that whatever the parliamentary threshold, we can adjust,” he said.