Kaesang to Run for Legislature in Puan Maharani's Electoral District, Ganjar: Central Java is a PDIP Stronghold

Ganjar Pranowo, Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), stated that everyone, including Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Chairman Kaesang Pangarep, has the right to run as a legislative candidate for the House of Representatives (DPR RI). He emphasised that the right of every citizen to participate in government is protected by the state. “Yes, the public has rights, and the state protects the right to participate in government, so anyone is allowed,” Ganjar said when met at the PDIP headquarters in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Ganjar also addressed Kaesang’s choice to run in the Central Java V electoral district, the same location where PDIP Chair Puan Maharani secured her seat. He stated that Kaesang’s candidacy does not represent a challenge to PDIP, which has long maintained a strong support base in Central Java. “Someone running for office is a challenge? You can also nominate whoever you like. Everyone is allowed. I remain confident that Central Java is a PDIP stronghold,” said the former Governor of Central Java, who served from 2013 to 2023.

In the 2009 elections, Puan Maharani ran for a DPR RI seat from the Central Java V electoral district, which includes the City of Surakarta and the Regencies of Sukoharjo, Klaten, and Boyolali. At that time, Puan secured 242,504 votes, the highest among all candidates, and won a seat in the House of Representatives.