LPI Survey: Jokowi and Kaesang Boost PSI's Image

Lembaga Pemilih Indonesia (LPI) has released its latest national survey titled “The Influence of Jokowi on the Image of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in the Public’s View”. The results indicate that the figure of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), is considered the main magnet providing a significant influence on the increase in positive image and public trust in PSI.

LPI’s Director of Research and Political Policy, Fernando Emas, explained that this phenomenon shows a transfer of perception from a prominent figure directly to a political party. “The survey results show that an average of 70.2 percent of the public assess that PSI’s closeness with Jokowi can enhance a positive impression or image of the party. These figures confirm that in the public’s eye, PSI and Jokowi have practically become a single political identity package,” Fernando stated in Jakarta on Friday (19/6/2026).

Beyond image, as many as 77.8 percent of respondents also believe that the former president has a strong influence on the direction of public support for PSI. Besides the Jokowi effect, the performance of Kaesang Pangarep as PSI’s General Chairman also contributes to shaping positive public perception. A total of 69.7 percent of respondents assessed that Kaesang’s leadership strengthens PSI’s closeness with the Jokowi lineage, and 68.2 percent acknowledged that their interest in PSI is influenced by the chairman.

From LPI’s data, Kaesang’s appeal is not solely due to his status as Jokowi’s son, but rather his position which is considered to strongly represent the younger generation. “As many as 72 percent stated that Kaesang represents the younger generation, which was the reason most chosen by respondents. These two things—both the Jokowi factor and the Kaesang factor—ultimately reinforce each other in shaping PSI’s image as a youth party associated as Jokowi’s political representation,” Fernando said.

However, behind this soaring positive perception, PSI faces a contrasting electoral reality. When respondents were asked about their party of choice if a legislative election were held today, PSI only garnered an electability rating of 1.9 percent. This figure places PSI below PPP (2.8 percent) and slightly above the Perindo Party (1 percent). The national electoral map in this survey is still dominated by five major parties: Gerindra at 21.9 percent, PDI Perjuangan at 19 percent, Golkar at 8.1 percent, PKB at 7.9 percent, and PKS at 4.7 percent.

Responding to this significant challenge, Fernando reminded that public loyalty to the figure of Jokowi is not automatically converted into real votes for PSI at the ballot box. “This means that the image capital from the figure of Jokowi needs to be immediately converted into concrete work programmes and political substance that is directly felt by the public. If not, the popularity accompanying Jokowi’s name risks remaining only a superficial image without ever turning into votes in the ballot box,” he concluded.