PSI Hits Back at PDIP: Deeply Hurt by Jokowi's Departure

PSI Central Executive Board Chairman Bestari Barus has responded to PDIP politician Guntur Romli, who previously corrected the narrative that Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) left the party, stating instead that he was expelled. Bestari Barus claimed PDIP ranks are suffering from deep heartache after being left by Jokowi. Bestari initially expressed regret over Guntur Romli’s statement regarding Jokowi, deeming it highly inappropriate. “Yes, such a statement is actually very unworthy to come from the mouths of people who consider themselves to be in a major party, with good political education. It turns out today the people of the Republic of Indonesia are measuring, oh this is the only result obtained, the quality of narrative that can be delivered by a party that considers itself big, that is very regrettable,” Bestari said when contacted on Sunday (14/6/2026). He further stated that PDIP members are deeply hurt to no longer be with Jokowi, expressing hope that PDIP can reorganise itself to be more mature in politics. “But indeed, as I have said several times on various occasions, the pain of being left by Mr Jokowi is truly profound and preserved, piled up in their hearts. They need a curriculum for maturity education, if the party even has a curriculum, so they can better organise themselves and be more mature in politics,” he said. Bestari did not dispute whether Jokowi was expelled or not, adding that many Indonesians are happy Jokowi is no longer in PDIP. “As for the issue of Mr Jokowi being expelled, Gibran being expelled, or Bobby being expelled, it’s just a mechanism. But I am a thousand percent convinced of how happy the Indonesian people are to see Mr Jokowi leave or in the process be expelled by PDIP,” he explained. “Because they saw Mr Jokowi being belittled, called arrogant, made into a selfie object, seated in a fancy chair in front of a crowd. Arrogant, they said, and all sorts of things. Is that what they call giving honour?” he continued. Bestari went on to label Guntur Romli’s statement as rubbish, while again expressing sympathy for what Guntur Romli feels. “So for me, what is conveyed by anyone with a skewed tone is something that might be called rubbish. Rubbish, lacking class, lacking substance, which actually is not even worth responding to. But never mind, we sympathise with the extraordinary pain they feel, which is represented in delivering reactions to the public by Guntur,” he said. He also expressed hope that PDIP would not meddle in PSI’s affairs. “Look, whatever Mr Jokowi will do with PSI should not be a concern for PDIP. Take care of your own party, that’s how it is. Even if we symbolically gave Mr Jokowi our jacket, we already did that at his residence, we gave him our honorary jacket,” he added. Previously, Bestari Barus had mentioned that the plan to present Jokowi with a PSI jacket signalled he was no longer with PDIP. PDIP politician Guntur Romli asserted that Jokowi had already been expelled in December 2024. “I correct the title, Jokowi is not just no longer with PDI Perjuangan, but Jokowi has been expelled by PDI Perjuangan, along with Gibran, Bobby and 27 others in December 2024, due to constitutional violations, violations of the party’s constitution and bylaws, and party regulations,” Guntur said when contacted on Sunday (14/6). “So Jokowi did not leave PDI Perjuangan or resign, but was expelled for violations. Because he has been expelled, it is no longer PDI Perjuangan’s concern whether he wants to be without a party or join another party,” he added. Guntur also brought up that Jokowi’s followers, when he was still in PDIP, refused to have him called a ‘party officer’, taking a jab at that. “Just want to remind, previously Jokowi’s supporters did not want Jokowi to be called a ‘party officer’ when he was with PDI Perjuangan, they said it was an insult. So with Jokowi joining a party only for that party’s electoral interests, it means spitting and then licking it back up,” he said. He further touched on Jokowi’s position in PSI, which he considered merely that of a servant. “The difference is, ‘party officer’ Jokowi as a party member (PDI Perjuangan) was assigned for the interests of the people and the state. ‘Party flunkey’ Jokowi as a party member (PSI) only works for the party’s electoral interests, that’s all,” he said.