Kaesang to Challenge Puan in Solo Electoral District for 2029 General Election

Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Chairman Kaesang Pangarep has announced he will run as a legislative candidate in the 2029 General Election. Kaesang stated he will contest the Central Java V electoral district, which is the constituency of House of Representatives (DPR RI) Speaker and PDI-P politician Puan Maharani. “I actually planned to come to Solo just for Persis Solo, but it coincided with the Solo City DPD coordination meeting, so I just announced that I will be a legislative candidate here,” Kaesang said while attending the PSI Solo coordination meeting on Saturday (25/7). The Central Java V electoral district covers four regencies and cities: Surakarta (Solo), Boyolali, Klaten, and Sukoharjo. In the 2024 legislative election, Puan obtained the most votes in the district with 297,366 votes. Kaesang clarified that his remarks were made not as party chairman, but as a prospective legislative candidate for 2029. He requested that there be no conflicts of interest among party cadres during the election. According to Kaesang, all PSI cadres must support each other, whether they receive a ticket to run or not. He also urged those who do secure a ticket not to undermine each other in the field, acknowledging that differences in ballot numbers can create friction. “Because I know usually number one and number two clash because their voter base is the same, but no one wants to back down,” Kaesang said. “There must be no conflict, and for the structure in 2029, for those not running, I ask for your help and support to remain solid so we can win the 2029 election,” he added. Kaesang said he will spend more time in Solo going forward, as that is his designated territory, while other areas in the electoral district have been assigned to others. “I only got Solo. But I ask that our target be really big for 2029,” Kaesang concluded.