PDIP Dismisses Kaesang's Legislative Bid in Puan's Stronghold: Central Java is a 'Bull's Pen'

PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) executive Ganjar Pranowo has said the party is unfazed by Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Chairman Kaesang Pangarep’s announcement that he will run in the 2029 legislative election from Central Java’s Electoral District V. “Every citizen has the right to equal opportunity in government. That is guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution. Whoever it is,” he said in a written statement to journalists on Sunday (26/7). He also considered it natural that Kaesang would run in Electoral District V, given that he hails from Solo, Central Java. Ganjar believes the most important thing going forward is to ensure that the public can exercise their right to vote freely and without pressure from anyone. “For PDIP, this is not a matter of who faces whom, but rather how the people are given the opportunity to determine their choice freely and democratically,” he said. Furthermore, Ganjar expressed confidence that PDIP’s vote share in the region would not be eroded by Kaesang’s planned candidacy. According to him, the public will still vote based on track record and closeness to the people. Therefore, Ganjar is confident Central Java will remain a vote bank for PDIP. “We respect every election participant, and remain confident that closeness to the people, track record, and real work will be the main considerations for the public in granting a mandate,” he explained. “No (votes will be lost), our party is different. I am still confident (Central Java) is a bull’s pen,” he added. Previously, PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep announced he would run as a legislative candidate from Solo City. Kaesang said he would run as a candidate from Central Java’s Electoral District V. Central Java’s Electoral District V covers the areas of Surakarta City (Solo), Boyolali, Klaten, and Sukoharjo. House of Representatives (DPR RI) Speaker Puan Maharani hails from this electoral district. In the last election, Puan secured the most votes with 297,366.