Jokowi to Re-emerge Amidst Rivalry Between PSI and Projo

JAKARTA — The 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokov), is said to be preparing for a significant public re-emergence in June 2026. Reports suggest that Jokowi’s health has recovered by 99 per cent, leaving him ready to travel across Indonesia.

These claims regarding Jokowi’s health and future plans were made by the Secretary General of Projo, Freddy Alex Damanik. However, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) immediately refuted Projo’s claims, asserting that only doctors can determine Jokowi’s health status and that PSI, not Projo, is responsible for organising his upcoming travels.

Initially, Projo Secretary General Freddy Alex Damanik stated that Jokowi had informed his volunteers that his health is 99 per cent recovered and that he plans to begin touring Indonesia next month (June) to greet the public. He added that Jokowi would be accompanied by volunteers during these regional visits.

In response, PSI Chairperson Bestari Barus dismissed Freddy’s statements, emphasising that PSI is the entity managing the timing and destination of Jokowi’s tours. Bestari also took the opportunity to criticise Projo, referencing previous statements where the group suggested their name did not stand for ‘Pro-Jokowi’.

‘We are the ones preparing this. I do not know which Projo you are referring to; does it not stand for something other than Pro-Jokowi? They said that once, so it is quite confusing,’ Bestari told Kompas.com on Thursday. She further noted that PSI has been preparing a roadmap for Jokowi’s travels, starting from the party’s national working meeting in Makassar, as part of their strategy for the 2029 elections.

This political maneuvering comes as the former Mayor of Solo has yet to see significant electoral success for PSI in Parliament. According to party figures, despite Jokowi’s influence in the 2024 Election, recent IPO surveys suggest his impact on party electability has not been as significant as previously thought.