PDIP Accuses PSI of Exploiting Jokowi Rift for Political Sympathy

PDIP Central Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus has responded to remarks by PSI Central Board Chairman Bestari Barus, who claimed PDIP continues to talk about the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Deddy stated his party will never forget Jokowi and uses his case as learning material internally.

“Of course, PDIP will never forget Jokowi, ever. In all our cadre training activities, the valuable lessons from Jokowi’s presence are discussed as a case study,” Deddy told reporters on Tuesday (16/6/2026).

He then outlined several lessons from Jokowi’s political journey, including those concerning power, ambition, and democratic dynamics. “That a person can change if they become addicted to power, fame, and wealth. Second, that someone can lie and deceive perfectly over a long period, simply by pretending to be naive and humble while harbouring cross-generational dynastic ambitions,” Deddy said.

“Third, that power and the lust for it are so intoxicating they can make someone bend all the foundations of democracy and the rule of law. In that context, internally within PDIP, a Jokowi will never be forgotten but will serve as a bitter lesson for the future,” he continued.

Deddy also asserted that in the public sphere, PDIP will not actively discuss Jokowi, unless there are matters requiring a political response. “This debate about PDIP and Jokowi has been systematically and consistently carried out by PSI leaders for months for their own political gain,” he said.

According to him, PSI continues to try linking the two parties for political purposes. He assessed this strategy as an attempt to build public sympathy through political conflict. “They think that by pitting PDIP against Jokowi, PSI and Jokowi will gain more public sympathy. This is a cheap tactic thought up by PSI leaders because they don’t know how to grow their party through cadre training, organisational strengthening, and hard work on the ground,” he said.

“They only know shortcuts like poaching cadres from other parties or creating sensational narratives in the media and on social media. So I urge the political turncoats now leading PSI to start learning how to build their party with sweat and blood,” he added.

Meanwhile, PDIP politician Guntur Romli stressed that Jokowi is never discussed within PDIP. He stated that Jokowi was expelled by PDIP. “Jokowi is no longer talked about in PDI Perjuangan. But if there are those who still want to link Jokowi with PDI Perjuangan, like the framing done by Bestari Barus, we must explain that Jokowi was expelled by PDI Perjuangan, that Jokowi did not resign, did not leave, did not abandon PDI Perjuangan, but was fired and expelled by PDI Perjuangan,” Guntur said.

He emphasised that the relationship between PDIP and Jokowi ended after the party imposed the expulsion sanction. According to him, Jokowi violated the party’s constitution and bylaws. “Jokowi did not resign, leave, or abandon PDI Perjuangan, but Jokowi was expelled and driven out of PDI Perjuangan. Jokowi is a ‘malin kundang’ (a treacherous child from Minangkabau folklore),” he stated.

Guntur also assessed that various issues related to Jokowi are no longer connected to PDIP. He said Jokowi should be accountable to the people for the policies he enacted during his presidency. “If the people are now experiencing hardship, then go ahead and demand responsibility from Jokowi, who supposedly wants to go on tour. PDI Perjuangan has been firm; because Jokowi violated the rules, we expelled him. Now it’s up to the people, whether they want to welcome Jokowi or instead demand he fulfil his promises,” he added.

Previously, PSI Central Board Chairman Bestari Barus responded to a statement by PDIP Central Board Chairman Andreas Hugo Pareira, who said his party had forgotten the 7th President Joko Widodo. PSI brought up Jokowi’s name, which continues to be discussed. “Well, thank God, if someone has forgotten, they wouldn’t remember, right? But they still keep talking about him,” Bestari told reporters on Monday (15/6).

Bestari said PDIP has not yet forgotten Jokowi. He brought up Jokowi’s electoral victories, attributing them not to PDIP but to the people. “They haven’t forgotten, right? They haven’t moved on, have they? So we are quite concerned about the feelings PDIP is experiencing over Mr Jokowi’s departure to our party,” Bestari said.