PSI Strikes Back at JK's Claims About Jokowi, Highlights Anies' Defeat in Presidential Election

PSI Deputy Chairman Bestari Barus took a swipe at the statement by the 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK), who claimed that Joko Widodo (Jokowi) became President due to his role. Bestari emphasised that victories in presidential elections are determined by the people, while alluding to JK’s track record of defeats in several contests.

Bestari said she was surprised by JK’s statement, which she deemed unusual. She noted that JK has long been known as a calm figure.

“Yes, I’m just finding out too. Well, I was just shocked, you know. Pak JK is a statesman whom I’ve never, well, seen reacting so emotionally to issues. Usually, Pak JK is a gentle person; I don’t know what happened this time,” said Bestari Barus when contacted on Monday (20/4/2026).

Bestari stressed that nominations in elections are not determined by one person but involve many parties, especially the supporting political parties.

“Well, I think this is, whoever is nominated isn’t an individual, but more to the participants of the election, which are the supporting political parties collectively,” she said.

“Not one or two people. One or two people might promote, form winning teams and so on. I think many people played a role at that time, the supporting parties and such,” she continued.

Nevertheless, Bestari did not take issue if JK felt he had a major role in Jokowi’s nomination. She said such a thing is worthy of appreciation.

“Well, if Pak JK feels he has a role, we should appreciate it as a senior politician who contributed to forging an agreement to support Pak Jokowi along with himself to become president and vice president; that’s actually something good,” she stated.

Alluding to Presidential Election Results

However, Bestari also alluded to the results of several contests that JK participated in. She said victories are determined by the people’s choice, not just support from figures.

“Who supports whom is normal, but who gets the people’s support is the one who wins; in the moment of Anies’ nomination recently and in 2009 when facing Pak SBY, he also lost,” she remarked.

She emphasised that the figure accepted by the people is the main factor in victories in presidential elections.

“So, the one accepted by the people is, when paired with Pak SBY, it was SBY who was accepted by the people; when paired with Jokowi, it was Jokowi who was accepted by the people; when (JK) was paired with that one (Wiranto), he wasn’t accepted by the people, so he wasn’t elected,” she said.

JK Affirms His Role

Previously, Jusuf Kalla expressed his annoyance over accusations that he funded the case regarding Jokowi’s diploma. In his statement, JK also alluded to his role in Jokowi’s political journey until becoming the 7th President of Indonesia.

That statement was made by JK when asked about the police report on his lecture video about ‘dying as a martyr’ at UGM. On that occasion, JK affirmed his role.

“Tell everyone, from the very beginning, Jokowi became president because of me,” JK asserted firmly.

Explanation from JK’s Spokesperson

JK’s spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, explained that the statement emerged because JK is often accused of being ungrateful to Jokowi.

“Pak JK’s explanation, which was delivered in a high tone, was to convince Jokowi’s loyalists who often narrate that JK is ungrateful even though he was appointed Vice President by Jokowi. He has no sense of gratitude towards Jokowi. JK isn’t emotional either. But JK has long held back from opening up about this,” said Husain when contacted on Sunday (19/4).

Husain said JK was forced to reveal his role, particularly in pushing for Jokowi’s nomination in the 2012 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.

“Finally, JK was compelled to reveal his role, how he brought Jokowi to Ibu Mega so he could be nominated as Governor of DKI. JK is aware that later in the presidential contest process, many parties were involved. But the initial promotion of Jokowi to Ibu Mega to ‘perform’ in the capital as a candidate for Governor of DKI was inseparable from the role he played,” he said.

According to him, Jokowi’s initial step in Jakarta opened the way to the 2014 Presidential Election.

“So what JK conveyed is that Jokowi’s initial step in Jakarta, which opened the door for Jokowi to later become President of Indonesia. Without this, his fate might have been different. Because after becoming Governor, Jokowi was then nominated as President by Ibu Mega,” he clarified.

“But at that time, Ibu Mega was unwilling to approve Jokowi’s nomination unless JK was his running mate. Because Jokowi was considered inexperienced even though his electability was high to compete with Prabowo. Thus, Pak JK became Jokowi’s Vice President,” he continued.

Husain emphasised that the determination of the presidential and vice-presidential pair at that time was not solely Jokowi’s decision, but at the request of the PDIP General Chairman.

“An important note here is that it wasn’t Jokowi who appointed JK as his partner, but directly at the request of Ibu Mega as PDIP General Chairman to JK to accompany Jokowi (who was considered inexperienced at the time). Once again, Ibu Mega did not want to sign off on Jokowi’s nomination if not paired with M. Jusuf Kalla. So who actually owes gratitude? Moreover, throughout the administration accompanying Jokowi, in several crucial moments JK often put himself on the line for Jokowi,” he stated.