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Jokowi, PDI-P relations hit a new low
The relationship between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which the President is a member, has gone from bad to worse in the leadup to the 2024 presidential election, as the highly popular leader seeks to carve out a political path for his family when he is no longer in the State Palace.
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Food for thought: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) receives a slice of rice cone from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during the opening of the party’s national executive meeting in Jakarta, on June 21, 2022. (Courtesy of/Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat)
The relationship between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which the President is a member, has gone from bad to worse in the leadup to the 2024 presidential election, as the highly popular leader seeks to carve out a political path for his family when he is no longer in the State Palace.
The PDI-P has repeatedly played down suggestions that its relationship with the President is strained, despite the latter’s political maneuvers, which analysts have said severely undercut the interests of the nation’s largest party.
In a critical blow to the nationalist party, Jokowi gave his blessing to his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, to join the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), a small political party with which the PDI-P has been at odds since the 2019 election. The PSI, a politically liberal but economically conservative party, has gained traction among young and urban voters on social media, posing a real threat to the grand old nationalist party.
“We happen to have something in common, which is our wish for young people to be more involved in the public sector, because we know, especially in elections, young people are usually used as passive objects rather than active ones,” Kaesang said after receiving his membership card from the party at his father’s private residence in Surakarta.
Read also: Jokowi’s youngest son Kaesang inducted as PSI member
“I see PSI as a party filled with young people who have the integrity, competence and enthusiasm needed to make Indonesia better, but it was unfortunate that they failed to enter the [legislature],” Kaesang said.
Breaking tradition
