PSI Chooses Middle-Ground Politics, What Does It Mean?
The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) is building a new face as a party open to all groups. Amid old stigmas and a target of entering Senayan in 2029, the elephant-symbol party is choosing a middle path and turning criticism into material for self-improvement.
Daily Chair of the PSI Central Executive Board (DPP) Ahmad Ali said PSI is promoting the main idea of middle-ground politics, which means accommodating all groups and removing identity barriers. Middle-ground politics, according to Ahmad Ali, can also be interpreted as PSI becoming a comfortable political home for everyone. ‘There must be no barriers based on religion, ethnicity, or a person’s background,’ he said.
The idea is an important part of PSI’s rebranding efforts. Ahmad Ali is aware that the party’s old image has shaped certain perceptions in society. One of them is the assumption that PSI is an anti-Islam party.
He considers that perception inseparable from PSI’s early history. When it was founded on 16 November 2014, the party, among other things, carried the issue of rejecting polygamy with the hope of building a strong base of female constituents. ‘That was not wrong,’ he said. However, he said, viewed from a broader perspective, that approach could make the party’s direction appear unclear because it brought religious issues into politics.
Therefore, PSI now wants to change its approach. A person’s private identity is no longer the main measure in determining who can join. ‘We no longer talk about those “colours”,’ he said. ‘So, anyone, from any religion, ethnicity, and background, who comes here (to PSI) will certainly be comfortable.’
Changing an image is certainly not as easy as changing a slogan, and Ahmad Ali is not choosing a narrative war. He is instead seeking out people who are still disappointed, angry, and even cursing PSI. In every visit to the regions, such criticism is actively sought. ‘If we are only praised, we will not know what the public actually wants,’ he said.
For Ahmad Ali, public anger is a form of information. He describes the activity as ‘problem shopping’—going to the public to find out the issues they face as well as discovering what the party needs to fix. As long as there are still people angry with PSI, according to him, there is still an opportunity for the party to improve itself.
One of the programmes being prepared is holding istighosah, or national prayers, regularly in the first week of every month at all PSI branches. ‘No need to talk much. Just action. If we do that, is it still appropriate to call us an anti-Islam party? Let the public judge,’ he said.