PSI Responds to PDIP: Jokowi Never Publicly Supported PSI

PSI DPP Chairman Bestari Barus responded to PDIP politician Guntur Romli’s claim that former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was unable to support PSI during his presidency, let alone after leaving office.

Bestari affirmed that during his presidency, Jokowi never publicly declared support for PSI despite the party being led by his son, Kaesang Pangarep.

“Indeed, President Jokowi did not assist PSI at the time, and he never made any statement,” Bestari told CNNIndonesia.com on Thursday (28 May).

He said Jokowi acted as a statesman to maintain national political stability.

He added that because Jokowi never expressed support for PSI, the coattail effect during his presidency instead benefited PDIP, Jokowi’s former party.

“Because Jokowi never publicly endorsed PSI and acted as a statesman to preserve national political stability—a point Guntur Romli failed to recognise—the coattail effect went to his former party, PDIP,” he said.

Bestari stated the situation has now changed as Jokowi has repeatedly pledged to support PSI.

He believes Jokowi’s open support will boost PSI’s electability in the future.

“Even silent voters are beginning to shift, thinking, ‘Oh, so President Jokowi is now with PSI’”, he said.

Previously, PDIP’s DPP commented on rumours of Jokowi being appointed as PSI’s Advisory Board Chairman.

PDIP spokesperson Guntur Romli, known as Gunrom, believes the appointment will have no impact. He argued that during his presidency, Jokowi failed to secure PSI’s entry into parliament.

“Logically, if Jokowi couldn’t get PSI into parliament when he was president, how could he do so now that he’s no longer in office?” Gunrom told reporters on Tuesday (26 May).