PDIP Responds to Jokowi's Plan to Continue Political Safari in Central Java

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has spoken out regarding the planned continuation of a political safari by Indonesia’s seventh President, Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, to Central Java in mid-July, a region long known as the PDIP stronghold. PDIP spokesperson Guntur Romli considers the safari plan to be nothing more than arrogance from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). He assessed that the plan does not need to be addressed, let alone worried about. “It is just a form of PSI’s arrogance, not a statement that needs to be responded to, let alone feared,” he said when contacted on Sunday (5/7). Gunrom, his nickname, assessed that PSI is not a major party capable of seizing the PDIP stronghold. This is because PSI has still not entered parliament after failing in the 2024 General Election. “If PSI were a major political party in 2024, then saying they want to seize the PDIP stronghold would be more logical,” he said. Gunrom believes PSI is simply too conceited. He is also not convinced PSI will be able to achieve much, especially since they also failed when directly supported by Jokowi as president. “Even though fully supported by Jokowi, who was still president at the time, with the tagline ‘PSI Jokowi’s Party’ and Jokowi’s photo on all billboards, Jokowi failed to get PSI into parliament even as president, let alone now that he is no longer president,” he said. Jokowi is reportedly planning to be accompanied by his son, who is also the Chairperson of PSI, Kaesang Pangarep, on the planned safari to Central Java. However, the specific regencies or cities they will visit are not yet known. “Hopefully, by mid-July, it can proceed,” said the Chairperson of the Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of PSI Central Java, Antonius Yogo, after meeting Jokowi at his residence in Sumber, Solo, Central Java, on Friday (3/7).