PSI Responds to JK: Jokowi's Victory a Collective Effort
Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Dedek Prayudi has responded to Jusuf Kalla’s statement claiming that Joko Widodo became president because of him. Uki, as Dedek is known, stated that Jokowi’s election as president was a collective effort and not the work of an individual.
“There was institutional work by political parties, work by various figures, even political consultants. But ultimately, it was the people themselves who decided,” Uki told Tempo on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
Meanwhile, PSI’s daily chairman Ahmad Ali said that former Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s statement about his role in winning Jokowi was too emotional.
Ahmad Ali described the statement as inappropriate because everyone contributed to the presidential election victory.
“Mr JK (Jusuf Kalla) is like an elder brother to me in the Indonesian Muslim Students’ Association (HMI). But it’s not right for Mr JK to claim that he made Jokowi win. I think that’s too emotional. Because the work was teamwork, right?” Ahmad Ali said when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
Ahmad Ali also dismissed allegations that Jokowi was behind the report against Jusuf Kalla to the police regarding suspected blasphemy. He also stated that PSI had no connection to the report against Jusuf Kalla.
“I can assure you 1000 percent that Mr Jokowi is not involved in this matter. I assure you 1000 percent that PSI is not part of this matter,” he said.
Jusuf Kalla’s statement came after he was accused by Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar of giving Rp 5 billion to Roy Suryo and associates related to the issue of Jokowi’s diploma.
Jusuf Kalla was also reported by the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI), led by Sahat Martin Philip Sinurat. Sahat is a PSI cadre.
At a press conference last Saturday, Jusuf Kalla vented his frustration towards parties that frequently discredit his relationship with Jokowi. JK recalled his role in bringing Jokowi to the national political stage.
“Tell all those termul that. Jokowi became president because of me. Agree? Agree. Without the governor, how could he become president,” JK said at his residence in South Jakarta on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
Termul is shorthand for ternak Mulyono. Mulyono is Jokowi’s childhood name. The term termul is associated with Jokowi sympathisers.
This 10th and 12th Vice President also questioned the decision of PDI Perjuangan General Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri to nominate Jokowi. He recounted his experience when asked by Megawati to accompany Joko Widodo in the 2014 presidential election.
According to JK, Jokowi did not yet have enough experience to be assigned as head of state.
“He had only been Governor (of Jakarta) for two years,” Kalla said during the press conference at his home in the South Jakarta area on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
JK once advised the chairman of the bull party to reconsider nominating the former Solo Mayor. “He doesn’t have enough experience yet; it will ruin the country,” said Jusuf Kalla.