PSI Reveals Reasons Behind Kaesang's Legislative Bid in Puan's Electoral District

PSI’s Deputy Executive Board Chairman for Political Affairs, Bestari Barus, has revealed the reason the party’s General Chairman, Kaesang Pangarep, will run as a legislative candidate in the Central Java V electoral district, the constituency of DPR Speaker Puan Maharani.

Bestari said the plan to stand was first conveyed by Kaesang in late January 2026. At the time, Bestari said, Kaesang asked PSI cadres intending to contest the 2029 legislative elections to promptly decide on the constituency in which they would compete.

“On that occasion, it was stated that all members of the executive board, including the General Chairman, were required to submit their chosen constituency as soon as possible,” Bestari said when contacted on Tuesday (28/7).

According to Bestari, Kaesang plans to run in Solo and its surrounding areas because he is already well known in the region. The youngest son of President Jokowi was born and raised in Solo.

“So I think the chance of winning a seat in the Solo area and its surroundings, in Central Java V constituency, is certainly not impossible,” he said.

Nevertheless, Bestari said Kaesang’s choice of Solo and its surrounding areas was not intended to confront any particular party. He said the legislative contest is a battle among all parties and candidates.

“PSI’s dynamics in the 2029 contest are not a head-to-head between one party and another; they simply run in parallel. There will be a great many parties taking part in the contest,” he said.

The Central Java V constituency covers parts of the Surakarta residency, including Solo, Boyolali, Klaten and Sukoharjo.

In the 2024 legislative elections, Central Java V had a total of eight seats at stake, with Puan Maharani winning the most votes with 297,366, making her the third-highest vote getter nationally, behind Said Abdullah and Dedi Mulyadi. However, the latter withdrew after being elected Governor of West Java in the subsequent 2024 regional elections.

With Kaesang’s planned candidacy, the constituency is predicted to become a ‘hellish’ electoral district and a clash of stars, as it would bring together the children of presidents.

“My plan in Solo was originally just for Persis Solo, but since there happened to be a regional coordination meeting of the Solo city chapter, I went ahead and announced that I would run as a candidate here,” Kaesang said while attending PSI Solo’s regional coordination meeting on Saturday (25/7).