Projo Rejects JK's Claims on Role Behind Jokowi Becoming President

Pro Jokowi volunteers (Projo) have denied statements by Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK), who claimed that Joko Widodo (Jokowi) became president because of him. Projo emphasised that Jokowi became president due to the will of the people.

“We respect Mr Jusuf Kalla as a national figure with tangible contributions to Indonesia’s democratic journey, including in the 2014 presidential election. However, we affirm that Joko Widodo’s victory as President of the Republic of Indonesia is the result of the will and trust of the Indonesian people,” said Projo General Secretary Freddy Alex Damanik in his statement on Sunday (19/4/2026).

Freddy stated that democracy is not built on the role of one individual, but on the collective efforts of the nation’s elements. According to him, Jokowi was also elected due to his leadership that emerged from the grassroots.

“Joko Widodo’s success cannot be separated from his leadership track record that emerged from below, real work, and closeness to the people. These factors form the main foundation of public trust,” he said.

Freddy also mentioned the role of PDIP as the party supporting Jokowi. According to him, the role of the party with the bull symbol cannot be separated from Jokowi’s victory in 2014.

“Projo, as a volunteer organisation that has stood from the beginning to safeguard people’s leadership, sees that support from volunteers, political parties like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, and active participation from the wider community are important pillars in that victory,” he said.

On that basis, Freddy invited all parties to maintain a healthy national narrative. Especially, he said, personal claims in the democratic process.

“Therefore, we invite all parties to maintain a healthy national narrative, not to simplify the democratic process into personal claims, and to continue upholding the spirit of unity. Indonesia’s democracy belongs to the people, and every victory in that process is a collective victory, not an individual’s,” he said.

JK’s Statement

Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla (JK), expressed his frustration over accusations by Rismon Sianipar who claimed he funded the diploma case of Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). JK also reminded of his role behind Jokowi’s career up to becoming Indonesia’s 7th President.

This statement was made by JK when asked about a police report regarding a video of his lecture on ‘dying as a martyr’ at UGM. JK was asked whether he felt politicised by this case.

Then, JK replied by saying he did not want to speculate. However, he felt this issue arose after he reported Rismon Sianipar to the police regarding allegations of funding Jokowi’s diploma case.

JK revealed that he had been contacted several times by Rismon and Roy Suryo, but he always refused, because he wanted to remain neutral, given the ongoing buzz about the allegations of Jokowi’s fake diploma. He also expressed his frustration about this fake diploma issue that has dragged on, thus implicating several names.

JK then spoke about his important role in Jokowi’s political career. JK said he was the one who brought Jokowi from Solo to Jakarta.

JK said he was the one who proposed Jokowi’s name to PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri for the Jakarta regional head election (pilkada). He even said that Jokowi became Indonesia’s 7th President because of him.

“Tell everyone, all of that from the very beginning, Jokowi became president because of me,” JK emphasised.