Projo Clarifies Budi Arie's Viral Statement on 'Political Acceleration'

The Secretary-General of Projo’s Central Executive Board, Freddy Alex Damanik, has emphasised that the viral statement by Projo Chairman Budi Arie Setiadi regarding the possibility of ‘political acceleration’ before 2029 was part of an internal discussion with volunteers and Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). According to him, it was Budi Arie’s personal view rather than a manoeuvre or stance by Projo.

Freddy said the statement could not be separated from the context of Jokowi’s meeting with volunteers. He explained that the meeting was a routine agenda held every three months to discuss and exchange views on various national issues.

‘The meeting between Mr Jokowi and the volunteers is routine, agreed to be held once every three months. So it was exactly as stated in the release, this time the theme was because it is the month of independence. But the essence of every meeting is discussion, exchanging ideas, volunteers giving input, giving information, discussing and exchanging views,’ said Freddy.

He explained that in the forum, the volunteers first conveyed their respective views. Jokowi then provided responses after all participants had expressed their opinions.

‘At the end, Mr Jokowi would speak only after all the volunteers had spoken, then he would respond and make a statement. That is the context of the meeting,’ he said.

According to Freddy, Budi Arie’s statement, which later drew public attention, was one of the views expressed in the forum. He stressed that the statement was Budi Arie’s personal view, not a decision or official political stance of Projo.

‘Budi Arie’s statement was part of the discussion. It was his view of the current political situation,’ said Freddy.

Freddy said Budi Arie was responding to the developing political dynamics, including the emergence of various demonstrations in several regions. ‘It was the same as the opinions or views of other volunteers. It just went viral because it was Budi Arie,’ he said.

Freddy also denied the assumption that the discussion about possible political acceleration was a sign of political manoeuvring by Projo or Jokowi’s volunteers. He explained that Budi Arie was merely inviting volunteers to consider various possibilities should the political situation change outside the normal scenario of the 2029 General Election.

‘It was a personal view. Everyone has the right to speak there and give input,’ said Freddy.

He said Budi Arie was inviting volunteers not only to think normatively about the 2029 political agenda, but also to prepare themselves for the possibility of a changing situation.

‘Budi Arie was thinking, for example, of trying to invite friends to think about the current situation, not to think only normatively. Let us think about what would happen if acceleration occurred under the current circumstances. We must always think about or be ready if such situations occur,’ he said.

Freddy described the term ‘historical fault line’ used by Budi Arie as part of the discussion about possible changes in the political situation.

‘It was not meant to suggest that volunteers or supporters of Mr Jokowi or Projo were spreading misleading narratives or provoking acceleration. It was simply an invitation to think about what would happen if acceleration occurred, to think about it together. Do not think only normatively about 2029,’ said Freddy.

Amid the emergence of the issue, Freddy confirmed that Projo’s official political stance towards the administration of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka remains unchanged.