Observer: PSI Faces Cadre Crisis, Recruiting Other Parties' Cadres No Guarantee of Electoral Boost

The claim by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) that it will receive more than 10 cadres from various political parties is not merely a sign of the party’s appeal. Behind the euphoria of external recruitment, PSI’s move is considered to reflect weak internal cadre development and a crisis of figures ahead of the 2029 General Election.

Political communication observer from Esa Unggul University, M. Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that the statement by PSI Central Executive Board (DPP) Daily Chairman Ahmad Ali regarding the many cadres from other parties who will join PSI shows pride in successfully attracting figures from other parties.

“Ahmad Ali’s admission shows his pride that PSI is capable of poaching cadres from other parties. Ahmad Ali wants to make it seem as though PSI is a more attractive, open party with a better future,” Jamiluddin told Media Indonesia on Monday (22/6).

However, according to him, this pride actually conceals a fundamental problem within PSI. He considers the step of recruiting cadres from outside to indicate that the party has not succeeded in building strong and competitive internal cadres. “In fact, behind that pride, there is actually a failure of cadre formation in PSI. It even indicates that PSI is experiencing a crisis of figures,” he said.

Jamiluddin assessed that this crisis of figures even touches the party’s leadership level. He highlighted the appointment of Ahmad Ali as Daily Chairman of the PSI DPP, which is considered unusual when linked to the condition of PSI General Chairman Kaesang Pangarep.

“The crisis of figures also touches the general chairman. To patch this up, Ahmad Ali was appointed as Daily Chairman of the PSI DPP. Usually, a Daily Chairman is appointed when the general chairman is busy. However, Kaesang Pangarep does not fall into that category,” he said.

Furthermore, Jamiluddin is of the view that PSI does not yet have confidence that the existing internal figures are capable of significantly boosting the party’s electability in the 2029 elections. Therefore, PSI is considered to be taking a shortcut by recruiting cadres from other parties who already have political experience and a support base.

“With the current general chairman and cadres, PSI appears not confident it can increase the party’s electoral performance. PSI is also confident it cannot glide into Senayan (parliament) in the 2029 legislative election,” he said.

According to him, this strategy aims to obtain figures who already possess social capital, popularity, and a network of supporters without having to incur large costs for a long-term cadre development process.

“PSI is taking a pragmatic approach by poaching cadres from other parties. In this way, PSI hopes to obtain figures who have social capital, popularity, and loyal supporters,” said Jamiluddin.

Nevertheless, he doubts the effectiveness of this strategy. Jamiluddin assesses that most of the figures joining PSI are not figures with strong electoral influence at the national level.

“In fact, from the names that have exodused to PSI, they are generally ordinary figures. Only one or two are at a medium level, such as Rusdi Masse. The others are just former regents, former members of the Indonesian House of Representatives, and other former officials,” he said.

He also emphasised that the status of being a former official does not automatically guarantee a large transfer of political support. According to him, the majority of voters in Indonesia are floating masses who do not have strong loyalty to a particular figure.

“Therefore, it is unlikely that cadres who exodus to PSI can bring their supporters in large numbers. Even if there are any, it would only be their loyal supporters. The case in Indonesia is that there are more floating masses than loyal supporters,” he said.

On that basis, Jamiluddin predicts that the strategy of recruiting cadres from other parties will not necessarily be able to deliver PSI into parliament in the 2029 elections. “So, if PSI relies on poached cadres to enter Senayan in the 2029 legislative election, it seems they will bite their fingers. PSI will remain a fringe party and can only dream as if it is already in Senayan,” he concluded.