Gerindra Criticises Solo Government's Use of Public Assets for Jokowi Birthday Billboards
The Solo City Branch Leadership Council (DPC) of the Gerindra Party has criticised the installation of several billboards conveying birthday greetings to Joko Widodo. The billboards in question belong to the Solo City Government.
Displayed on the billboards is a photograph of Jokowi wearing a white shirt, accompanied by the text: ‘21 June 2026 Happy 65th Birthday to Ir. H. JOKO WIDODO 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia’. A note at the bottom of the billboard states that the outdoor media is an asset of the Surakarta City Communication and Informatics Agency.
Chairman of the Solo DPC Gerindra, Ardianto Kuswinarno, questioned the use of local government assets to install birthday greetings for Jokowi. He expressed disappointment over the installation of the billboards. According to him, the use of government facilities to convey birthday greetings to a political figure needs to be evaluated.
‘We are disappointed with the installation of these billboards,’ Ardianto said at the Solo DPC Gerindra office on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
Based on information he received, there are approximately seven birthday greeting billboards for Jokowi installed by the Solo City Government at various locations. One of the points is in the Manahan area of Solo, at the Damri Solo intersection on Jalan Ahmad Yani.
‘From the information I received, there are about seven billboards installed by the Solo City Government with material wishing Jokowi a happy 65th birthday,’ he stated.
Ardianto suspected the installation of the billboards was intended as a surprise or a form of respect for Jokowi. However, as a party leader at the city level, he considered the move still worthy of questioning because it used assets belonging to the local government.
‘If you look at it, maybe the Mayor of Solo’s intention was a surprise or something, I don’t quite understand. As DPC Chairman, I am disappointed,’ he said.
He also highlighted the absence of similar treatment when President Prabowo Subianto, who is also the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, had his birthday some time ago. In fact, he noted, Solo Mayor Respati Ardi is a Gerindra Party cadre.
According to Ardianto, if the greeting to Jokowi is considered a form of respect for a national figure, then similar respect should also be given to Prabowo and other Gerindra figures.
‘We are only reminding. We do not question him giving birthday greetings to Mr Jokowi via billboards. That is legitimate and natural as a regional leader,’ he said.
Nevertheless, he hopes that in the future there will be balance in giving appreciation to figures who have made significant contributions to the party and the country.
‘I only hope that in the future, if such things happen, they can be balanced. Let there be no miscommunication later because he is also a Gerindra cadre,’ he said.
Ardianto even mentioned that appreciation could also be given to other Gerindra figures considered instrumental in building the party, including Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.
Beyond highlighting the political aspect, Ardianto questioned the use of the regional budget and government assets to install the birthday greeting billboards. According to him, this step needs to be evaluated so as not to cause polemics in the future.
‘The use of the APBD budget by him, this needs to be evaluated. Why wasn’t the step he took directed at private billboards? That must be evaluated first,’ he said.
Responding to the criticism, Solo Mayor Respati Ardi said he respected the views conveyed by the Chairman of the Solo Gerindra DPC. ‘We appreciate it, in short. I am ready to admit fault, Mr Chairman,’ Respati said when met by reporters.
When asked about the number of billboards installed, Respati did not provide an exact figure. He merely emphasised that the existence of the billboards was a form of appreciation for Jokowi’s contribution to Solo City.
‘There are several. We are blessed. Thanks to him, Solo City continues to receive blessings to this day,’ he said.
Respati again responded briefly to Ardianto’s criticism. ‘Regarding the matter from Mr Chairman yesterday, in short, I am ready to admit fault, ready to admit fault,’ he stated.