Jokowi Goes on Safari, Golkar Unfazed by Potential Loss to PSI

Golkar Party Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji is confident that each political party has its own appeal to attract voters in the 2029 General Election contest. Sarmuji assessed that the activities of former President Joko Widodo, who has begun visiting Lampung with the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), do not narrow Golkar’s chances of outperforming PSI. “The risk of voter migration is not only to PSI but also to other parties. Likewise, there is potential for migration from other parties to Golkar. That is normal in political contestation. We are optimistic about facing the 2029 election,” said the member of the House of Representatives when contacted on Friday, 26 June 2026. According to Sarmuji, whatever Jokowi does with PSI is the right of the former Mayor of Solo. He expressed an invitation to compete in doing good deeds. “Yes, that is the political right of Mr Jokowi and PSI. Mr Jokowi is a free man who is free to determine his political steps. We just respect that,” said Sarmuji. On Friday morning, 26 June 2026, Jokowi departed from Adi Soemarmo Airport, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, for Lampung to begin his safari with volunteers and the Indonesian Solidarity Party. Jokowi wore a white shirt and cap featuring PSI’s distinctive elephant logo. Regarding the agenda while in Lampung, Jokowi said the entire series of activities had been prepared by volunteers and PSI. “The event rundown has been made, both by volunteers and PSI, everything is ready. Later, it will be packed,” said the former cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Jokowi is scheduled to be in Lampung for three days. Plans for Jokowi’s visits to various regions were conveyed some time ago. He claimed the activities were carried out to fulfil public invitations. After Lampung, Jokowi will continue his blusukan to East Nusa Tenggara and West Java. Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council of the Nusantara People’s Brigade for Lampung Province, Sarhani, said Jokowi’s arrival was based on public demand. “We invited him because we received a lot of information and input from the general public that they wanted to be visited by Mr Jokowi after his retirement as president,” he said when contacted on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. According to Sarhani, Jokowi is coming as an ordinary citizen and has no political agenda. He said supporting volunteers would put up billboards to welcome Jokowi’s arrival in the southernmost region of Sumatra Island. During his three days in Lampung, Jokowi will not only meet volunteers and traditional leaders. The 7th President is scheduled to visit a number of places, including the Al Qodiri Islamic Boarding School in Central Lampung, the Kota Gajah Market in Central Lampung, the Transmigration Museum in Pesawaran, a Cultural Parade in East Lampung, and the Darussalamah Braja Dewa Islamic Boarding School.