PDI Perjuangan East Java Cadres Respond to Youth Political Engagement Challenge

Communication expert from Airlangga University, Suko Widodo, challenged PDI Perjuangan cadres to maintain direct communication between the people and political parties, including creating space for the youth. Speaking at the RedTalks 2026 event ‘Nationalism Without Generational Boundaries’ in Malang, he recalled the party’s grassroots connections in 1999 and urged a return to its ‘marhaen’ roots. ‘I hear there is a figure named Qintharra. That is what PDIP needs, not soldiers,’ Suko stated.

The challenge was directly addressed by Qintharra Ulya Yassifa, Deputy Head of Creative and Digital Economy for PDI Perjuangan East Java. She candidly explained that the party provides extensive space for young people, countering student scepticism about seniority and token participation. ‘At PDI Perjuangan, the ladder of participation where young people are merely used as tokens or cosmetics is not practised. Young people are genuinely involved, from the provincial structure down to the grassroots,’ Qintharra said, adding that youth are included in providing input for government policy.

Political observer Rocky Gerung responded by praising Qintharra’s honesty and distinguishing her approach from that of ‘soldiers’. He argued that cynicism towards parties must be based on argument, not mere sentiment. Gerung challenged PDIP to demonstrate the strength of its nationalism in blocking oligarchy and safeguarding sovereignty as a symbol of Pancasila. He stressed that ideological direction is needed in a directionless world, urging young people to engage in debate with arguments and ideological conviction, revisiting the intellectual debates of a young Sukarno.