Jokowi's Political Safari for 2029 Polls: How Effective in Winning Voters?

President Joko Widodo, who left PDI-P and is now associated with the Solidarity Party (PSI), will tour the country in the near future. He will begin his journey in Lampung, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and West Java. Although the safari is said to fulfill public invitations and meet PSI officials locally, the public suspects his visits also aim to boost PSI’s votes ahead of the 2029 election. How effective will this safari be in securing voter support when the election is still three years away? Referring to the 2024 election, 30% of voters had already decided their choices long in advance. Therefore, starting early could provide an advantage, at least enabling PSI to pass the parliamentary threshold. ‘More than 30% of voters have already made up their minds well in advance. Thus, Jokowi’s loyal voters can be secured early,’ Djayadi said. According to Djayadi, conducting political tours well in advance can also sway swing voters. He acknowledged that approaching swing voters early extends the persuasion period significantly. This allows undecided supporters to be guided towards backing Jokowi and PSI. ‘This means it’s still possible to bring them to the respective party. So, it’s a dual strategy, a two-pronged approach,’ he added. Moreover, he stated that three years before an election is not a long time, as elections held every five years are too short for political preparation.