PDIP and PSI Clash Over Jokowi's Political Future

Relations between the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) have heated up. The two parties are trading statements regarding the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who will soon wear the PSI jacket. The matter of Jokowi wearing the PSI jacket was initially raised by PSI DPP Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees, Grace Natalie. She stated that Jokowi would soon officially wear the PSI jacket as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Grace therefore requested that PSI regional executive boards (DPW) across Indonesia immediately complete their structures. She said a special regional coordination meeting was held to ensure the completeness of PSI’s management structure throughout Indonesia, including in East Nusa Tenggara. Once the process is complete, she said Jokowi will visit various regions wearing official PSI attire. “So PSI nationally in all provincial DPWs, to complete the structure down to the village and sub-district level. Not only in NTT, this is happening simultaneously in other regions because next year we will enter verification, and we will soon complete it so that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees can formally wear the PSI jacket and greet the public,” Grace explained during her visit to Kupang. The issue has now led to PSI and PDIP trading statements. PSI DPP Chairman Bestari Barus said the pinning of the PSI jacket on Jokowi marks that Jokowi is no longer with PDIP. Bestari said the jacket pinning will be carried out by PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep. “Yes, it could be like that (before touring), it could flow. The most important thing is that it becomes public knowledge that Pak Jokowi is not just words,” Bestari told reporters. “But later, after the jacket is pinned and officially announced by the Chairman, it will become the widest possible public knowledge that Pak Jokowi is now with PSI and no longer with PDI,” he continued. He said the plan for Jokowi to serve as Chairman of the PSI Board of Trustees had been previously conveyed by Kaesang during several visits, including in South Sumatra and Lampung. “Of course, regarding the jacket, it is symbolic. The jacketing is symbolic, naturally adjusting to the time and place where the Chairman will symbolically pin it, marking the effective start of Pak Jokowi’s role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees,” he said. Bestari hopes that after the PSI jacket pinning ceremony, Jokowi’s political status will become clearer to the public. He stressed that Jokowi is no longer in PDIP. “I think that could be introduced simultaneously (touring), and at the same time it becomes the first gong for Pak Jokowi being with us on the PSI board,” he said. “And it is our hope that it becomes the widest possible public knowledge. His political position, so there is no more doubt or hesitation in society. Which party is Pak Jokowi with now, right?” he added. PDIP politician Guntur Romli then responded to Bestari Barus’s statement. He stressed that Jokowi was already expelled in December 2024. “I correct the title, Jokowi is not just no longer with PDI Perjuangan, but Jokowi was expelled by PDI Perjuangan, along with Gibran, Bobby, and 27 others in December 2024, due to constitutional violations, violations of the AD/ART and party regulations,” Guntur said when contacted. “So Jokowi did not leave PDI Perjuangan or resign, but was expelled for violations. Because he has been expelled, it is no longer PDI Perjuangan’s concern whether he wants to be without a party or join another party,” he added. Guntur also brought up how Jokowi’s followers, when he was still in PDIP, refused to have him called a ‘party officer’. He took a jab at this. “Just want to remind, previously Jokowi’s supporters did not want Jokowi to be called a ‘party officer’ when he was with PDI Perjuangan, they said it was an insult. So with Jokowi joining a party only for the electoral interests of that party, it means he is biting back his own words,” he said. Furthermore, he also touched on Jokowi’s position in PSI, which he considered merely that of a servant. “The difference is, ‘party officer’ Jokowi as a party member (PDI Perjuangan) was assigned for the interests of the people and the state. ‘Party flunkey’ Jokowi as a party member (PSI) only works for the electoral interests of the party, that’s all,” he said. Bestari Barus then responded again to Guntur Romli’s statement. He said the PDIP ranks are deeply heartbroken after being left by Jokowi. Bestari initially regretted Guntur Romli issuing a statement against Jokowi. According to him, Guntur Romli’s statement was very inappropriate. “Yes, a statement like that is actually very inappropriate coming from the mouths of people who consider themselves to be in a big party, with good political education. It turns out today the people of the Republic of Indonesia are measuring, oh this is the only result obtained, the quality of the narrative that can be delivered by a party that considers itself big, that is very regrettable,” Bestari said when contacted. Bestari then said the PDIP ranks seem very heartbroken to no longer be with Jokowi. He hopes PDIP can reorganise itself to be more mature in politics. “But indeed, what I have conveyed several times on various occasions is that the pain of being left by Pak Jokowi, the pain felt because of being left by Pak Jokowi is indeed very deep and well-preserved, piled up in their hearts. They need a maturing education back in the curriculum, if that party even has a curriculum, so they can then better organise themselves to be more mature in politics,” he said. Bestari did not question whether Jokowi was expelled or not. He said many people are happy that Jokowi is no longer in PDI.