Gerindra Unfazed by PSI's Ambition to Make Central Java an 'Elephant's Den'

Secretary of the Gerindra Party’s Board of Trustees, Ahmad Muzani, has asserted that his party has no objection to the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) targeting Central Java to become its ‘elephant’s den’. According to Muzani, every political party has the right to build its political strength in various regions in order to champion the people’s aspirations. ‘I think every political party must have a strong determination to fight for the people’s aspirations in that region,’ Muzani told reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. ‘And the more political parties that want to make it a base for their struggle, the better, I think,’ he continued. Muzani assessed that political party competition in each region demonstrates that democracy in Indonesia is functioning healthily. ‘It means there is competence, there is competition in the region in terms of aspirations and political strength to advance the area. I think it’s all good,’ Muzani concluded. It was previously reported that PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep is targeting Central Java to become the party’s stronghold, or ‘elephant’s den’, for the 2029 elections. Kaesang made the statement during a PSI Regional Coordination Meeting in Central Java. He noted that PSI managed to secure 12 seats in Central Java during the 2024 elections, comprising five seats in the Solo City DPRD, five seats in the Semarang City DPRD, and two seats in the Central Java DPRD. Despite this, Kaesang admitted he was not yet satisfied. He expressed hope that in the 2029 elections, PSI would succeed in both the legislative and executive branches. Kaesang then urged all PSI cadres to work hard to achieve this target. ‘Are we ready for 2029, the next election, to make Central Java the Elephant’s Den? No more other dens. The elephant’s place is now here. PSI is here for the people of Central Java,’ Kaesang declared.