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Jokowi’s youngest son Kaesang inducted as PSI member
In a break with his family's political affiliation, as well as the membership rules of the PDI-P, the President's youngest son was formally welcomed into the PSI fold on Saturday.
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Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Giring Ganesha (second left, front) and PSI board of trustees deputy chair Grace Natalie (right) symbolically presents the party's membership card to Kaesang Pangarep (third right), President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo's youngest son, during an event on Sept. 23, 2023 at the Widodo family’s residence in Surakarta, Central Java. (Antara/Mohammad Ayudha)
Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has officially become a formal member of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) after weeks of speculation.
PSI chairman Giring Ganesha symbolically presented Kaesang with an oversized mock-up of the party’s membership card (KTA) during an event on Saturday at the Presiden’ts private residence in Surakarta, Central Java. Also attending the event were Kaesang’s wife Erina Gudono as well as the PSI board of trustees’ deputy chair Grace Natalie and secretary Raja Juli Antoni.
Kaesang decided to become a member of the PSI, which he saw as “comprised of highly competent young people with integrity” and a spirit to “make a better Indonesia”.
“We have a similar motivation to push more young people to be more involved in the public sector,” he added.
Kaesang said he had been communicating with party officials long before eventually deciding to join last week after receiving his wife’s blessing.
On Wednesday, the party uploaded a video to social media showing the silhouette of a man identified only as “Mawar” (rose), who spoke of his aspiration to make his first foray into politics. Many netizens likened the male figure and voice to Kaesang’s.
Known for his internet savvy, Kaesang started out as a blogger and a YouTube personality before launching several food and beverage businesses.
