PDIP, PSI politicians argue over Jokowi’s Safari plan

Former President Joko Widodo’s plans to visit various parts of Indonesia soon have sparked a heated debate between politicians from the PDI Perjuangan and the Indonesian Solidarity Party.

Joko Widodo revealed that the sole purpose of this program was to respond to invitations from residents in various regions after their health conditions gradually improved.

“Yes, I have received many invitations from the regions to attend from the community. Yes, I am in good health and I will respond to the existing invitations,” said Joko Widodo at his residence, Sumber, Banjarsari, as reported by detikJateng on Monday, May 25, 2026.

The former mayor of Solo also said that in addition to staying in touch, he wanted to directly encourage residents in the neighborhood.

“And it’s also to give motivation,” explained Joko Widodo.

Asked about the possibility that this political safari was linked to the preparation of the 2029 presidential election to support Gibran Rakabuming Raka, he was reluctant to provide a long explanation.

“Because there was an invitation from the region,” underlined Joko Widodo.

He assured that his excellent physical condition prepared him to fully resume his active activities in society.

“Yes, that’s it, that’s it. Responding to regional invitations means that’s it, that’s it. Yes, it’s ready. God willing, it’s ready,” Joko Widodo said.

In response to the plan, PDI Perjuangan spokesperson Guntur Romli said his party was not at all worried because Joko Widodo was no longer part of the internal cadre.

“I’m sure there is no influence. Jokowi was dishonorably dismissed from the PDI Perjuangan. Including Gibran and Bobby. The public already knows the reason,” said Guntur Romli when contacted, Friday, May 29, 2026.

Guntur Romli claimed that Joko Widodo’s electoral influence was not significant for the party, while also insinuating his failure to get his new party into Parliament while he was still president.

“By simple logic, when Jokowi was president, he was not able to pass the PSI in Parliament, especially now it is nothing,” Guntur Romli said.

He added that he suspected the touring activity in the region was just a social media spin and a prediction of further political drama.

“Most of the time he travels around Indonesia just distributing basic necessities and envelopes. He just creates content on social media,” Guntur Romli added.

The PDIP stressed that it would not intervene in the activities of its former cadres and said its electoral impact during its ten years as head of the party was only about 1 percent.

“There is nothing to worry about when Jokowi travels to every corner of Indonesia. We can watch soap operas left and right in Jokowi’s way,” said Guntur Romli.

He estimated that the electoral contribution made by the former president did not have a great influence on the stability of the party’s electability at the national level.

“PDIP data from 2014 to 2019, when Jokowi became president, only increased by 1 percent, so it did not have a significant impact on the party’s electoral votes,” Guntur Romli said in an interview with CNN Indonesia.

On the other hand, PSI DPP Chairman for Political Affairs Bestari Barus admitted that he was surprised by the cynical attitude that PDI Perjuangan politicians had continued to demonstrate since their separation.

“It’s actually strange that he is worried. Why should he be worried? Mr. Jokowi is right, and if I said that, he was the 7th president who, when he was in power, often visited him, so there was a nostalgia from community groups or individuals who had experienced his policies implemented on the ground. When he came, they also greeted him, there was a desire for him to come,” Bestari Barus said when he was contacted Friday May 29, 2026.

Bestari Barus considered that the strong criticism of the PDIP was born from the loss of political advantages obtained thanks to the figure of the former mayor.

“I don’t know, since Pak Jokowi took away the benefits from his party, his opinions have always been biased, right?” said Bestari Barus.

The PSI hopes that the momentum from this safari will be used to highlight a new political direction, as well as to attract the sympathy of loyal voters who have not yet made a choice.

“So without them (PDIP) realizing it, we at PSI are actually happy that Pak Jokowi is no longer there, and I hope it will also be an opportunity when we visit all of Indonesia later, Pak Jokowi said that he is now at PSI. So for 10 years people loved Pak Jokowi when he was in power, today it is a public announcement ‘oh, he is already here, at PSI with the PSI, we should no longer vote for this party, right,” he says. Bestari Barus.

The former NasDem party politician believes that the massive base of loyal supporters will also transfer his electoral support organically.

“That’s why these concerns arise. It is natural that the name of Pak Jokowi is loved by the people, then the silent voters of Pak Jokowi are moving, the supporters of Pak Jokowi are also moving, of course where? In PSI, so there are concerns, maybe we understand this,” continued Bestari Barus.

He called for the PDIP to focus more internally on resolving the affairs of its own organization rather than on the political moves of figures outside the party.

“Should he just pay attention to his party, or does he no longer have a job in his party, so he has to pay attention to other people’s parties? So it’s difficult. Yes. Ah, I also wonder what he actually is in the PDIP? Is he not an administrator, or is he not, or is he still in the running to become an administrator, right? So he has to make statements that have no weight and are not not constructive for his party”, underlined Bestari Barus.

Bestari Barus cited the results of previous electoral protests to respond to the allegations of dismissal of executives made by the opposition.

“Earlier it was said that he was fired. Imagine that someone who managed to win the presidential election was declared fired. Even though we know for ourselves that Ms. Megawati never won the election, then Ganjar Pranowo tried and never won the presidency, Mr. Jokowi left defeated,” Bestari Barus said in an interview with CNN Indonesia.

He analyzed that the disappointment caused by the defeat in the 2024 presidential election left a deep emotional impact within the party bearing the symbol of the bull.

“Yes, the defeat against Pak Prabowo was not that painful in fact, it was Pak Jokowi who was ill. It left an impression until this day,” he said.

Meanwhile, amid tense relations between the two parties, PDIP DPP Chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat gave his views on the legal case of fake diploma accusations involving Roy Suryo and Doctor Tifa.

“The best thing is not to use drama. Heeh, there is no need to use drama in court, you know,” said Djarot Saiful Hidayat when interviewed by SINDOnews in the North Jakarta area on Saturday, May 30, 2026.