PSI-PDIP Feud Over Jokowi Lengthens

The feud between the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) is growing longer. The two parties have been trading statements regarding the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The latest dispute between PSI and PDIP concerns Jokowi soon wearing the jacket of the party with the elephant logo, as revealed by PSI Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees, Grace Natalie. This news prompted a back-and-forth exchange of statements between PSI and PDIP.

PSI Says Jokowi No Longer with PDIP

PSI DPP Chair Bestari Barus stated that the act of putting the PSI jacket on Jokowi signifies that Jokowi is no longer with PDIP. Bestari said the jacket ceremony would be performed by PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep.

“But later, after the jacket is put on and officially announced by the Chairman, it will become the broadest public understanding that Mr Jokowi is now with PSI and no longer with PDI,” Bestari told reporters on Saturday (13/6).

He said the plan for Jokowi to serve as Chair of the PSI Board of Trustees had been previously conveyed by Kaesang during several visits, including to South Sumatra and Lampung.

“Of course, the jacket is symbolic. The jacket ceremony is symbolic and will naturally adjust to the time and place where the Chairman will symbolically put it on, marking the effective start of Mr Jokowi’s role as Chair of the Board of Trustees,” he said.

Bestari expressed hope that after the PSI jacket ceremony, Jokowi’s political status would become clearer to the public. He stressed that Jokowi is no longer in PDIP.

PDIP Says Jokowi Was Expelled, Not Resigned

PDIP politician Guntur Romli then responded to Bestari Barus’s statement. He asserted that Jokowi had already been expelled by PDIP in December 2024.

“I correct the headline: Jokowi is not just no longer with PDI Perjuangan, but Jokowi was expelled by PDI Perjuangan, along with Gibran, Bobby, and 27 others in December 2024, for 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; he was expelled for violations. Because he has already been expelled, it is no longer PDI Perjuangan’s concern whether he remains without a party or joins another,” he added.

Guntur also brought up the fact that Jokowi’s followers, when he was still in PDIP, refused to be called party functionaries. He took a jab at that. Furthermore, he also alluded to Jokowi’s position in PSI, which he considered merely that of a servant.

“The difference is that Jokowi as a ‘party functionary’ (of PDI Perjuangan) was assigned for the interests of the people and the state. Jokowi as a ‘party stooge’ (of PSI) only works for the party’s electoral interests, that’s all,” he said.

PSI Says PDIP Deeply Hurt by Jokowi’s Departure

Bestari Barus then responded again to Guntur Romli’s statement. He said PDIP ranks are deeply hurt after being left by Jokowi. He expressed hope that PDIP could 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 very deep and well-preserved, piling up in their hearts. They need a maturity education in their curriculum, if the party even has one, so they can better reorganise themselves and be more mature in politics,” Bestari said when contacted.

Furthermore, Bestari did not question whether Jokowi was expelled or not. He said many people are happy that Jokowi is no longer in PDIP. He also expressed hope that PDIP would not interfere in PSI’s affairs.

“Look, whatever Mr Jokowi will do with PSI should not be a concern of PDIP. Take care of your own party. If we have even symbolically put our jacket on Mr Jokowi at his home, we have given him our honorary jacket,” he added.

PDIP Claims It Has Already Forgotten Jokowi

PSI DPP Chair Bestari Barus said PDIP is deeply hurt after being left by Jokowi. PDIP DPP Chair Andreas Hugo Pareira responded to the statement by asserting that Jokowi was expelled by PDIP.

“Jokowi was expelled!” Hugo told reporters on Monday (15/6). Hugo was answering a question about whether PDIP is truly hurt by Jokowi’s departure.

Hugo said PDIP internally has already forgotten Jokowi. However, the circulation of the fake diploma issue attributed to Jokowi reminded PDIP of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia again.

“In PDI Perjuangan, we have already forgotten. Because of the fake diploma, this person’s name has resurfaced. The diploma algorithm reminded us of this name,” he continued.

According to Hugo, the only thing remembered about Jokowi is the fake diploma issue. “What is remembered is actually the fake diploma because it is widely discussed in the media and until now there has been no resolution,” Hugo said.

PSI’s Response

PSI DPP Chair Bestari Barus responded to PDIP DPP Chair Andreas Hugo Pareira’s statement that his party has already forgotten Jokowi. PSI alluded to the fact that Jokowi’s name continues to be discussed.

“Well, thank God, if someone has forgotten, they no longer remember, but they keep talking about him,” Bestari told reporters on Monday (15/6).

Bestari said PDIP has not yet forgotten Jokowi. He brought up the fact that Jokowi’s election victory was not due to PDIP, but because of the people.

“They haven’t forgotten yet, they haven’t moved on, right? So we are quite concerned about the feelings PDIP is experiencing over Mr Jokowi’s departure to our party,” Bestari said.

“If PDIP’s constitution is not fit for a President to follow, if it does not align with the President’s duty as a servant of the people. He was not a servant of the party, let alone merely a party functionary. And remember, the one who won, who made Mr Jokowi win, was not PDIP alone, but the people,” he continued.

He said the president is a servant of the people, not of a party. Bestari happily welcomed Jokowi.