Meeting Kaesang, Puan Becomes The 'Ice Breaker' Of PDIP And PSI's Freeze

Dok VOI

JAKARTA - The meeting of the Chairperson of the PDI-P (PDIP) DPP with the Chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Kaesang Pangerap is referred to as a political style that continues to discuss formal issues. Puan is playing a war as a 'ice breaker' between PDIP and PSI.

Puan's steps to embrace Kaesang cannot be separated from the form of political negligence, said Political Communication Observer Ari Junaedi, Thursday, October 5.

Puan and Kaesang met accompanied by several ranks of their respective parties in a relaxed and family atmosphere. Ari also appreciated Puan's attitude which seemed 'emerging' Kaesang considering that the youngest son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was a young person, and had just entered the political arena.

"Puan considers his meeting with Kaesang to be just a meeting between families. Puan does not want to place herself bigger or greater, both in terms of position and from her party, but wants to open up space for dialogue with young people such as Kaesang and PSI leadership," he explained.

Ari also praised Puan's efforts to try to adapt to the leadership style of young people such as Kaesang. Evidently, the meeting between Puan and Kaesang was held in a cafe in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

"Puan did not set the location of the meeting to be at the PDI-P DPP office but chose the cafe as a meeting place," said Ari.

"So that the meeting does not seem to smell 'heavy' in politics, Puan deliberately invites party wing administrators such as the Red and White Cadets and the Indonesian Young Bull, which were indeed formed to oversee young people in the PDI-P," continued the Director of the Nusakom Political Studies Institute Pratama Ari Junaedi.

Even though it is much more senior, Puan is considered still grounded. Even Puan continues to show her appreciation for Kaesang as the chairman of PSI, while still showing warmth like a sister to her sister.

Even though she has a position as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani always discusses the summons for Kaesang as 'Dik Ketum', a familiar greeting to appreciate Kaesang Pangarep's position as PSI General Chair,' said Ari.

The student of the Postgraduate Program at the Islamic University of Bandung (Unisba) also highlighted how Puan was able to solve PDIP's tensions with PSI so far through her meeting with Kaesang. Ari also supports Puan's statement that she must pay attention to politics and be based on mutual respect and respect.

"It's not wrong if Puan is considered an important figure in the current PDI-P body because it can be a 'ice breaker' as well as an initiator of the political maneuvers carried out by PDIP," he said.

As is known, several PSI elites or functionaries often make statements that corner PDIP. During the meeting with Puan, Kaesang also apologized for the attitude of a number of PSI cadres.

According to Ari, the figure of Puan as a 'ice breaker' was also shown when he met with the Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) some time ago. Even though PDIP and Democrats are known to have a rather cold history of relations.

"As Puan Maharani has tried to take in recent weeks. The relationship between PDI Perjuangan and Democrats, which was originally considered similar to water with oil, turned out to be open after Puan asked to meet AHY," said Ari.

Puan's meeting with Kaesang is also considered to be a way for increasing political support for the PDIP presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo. Although there is no agreement that PSI will join the PDIP, Ari thinks that the meeting between Puan and Kaesang is a good signal.

"Of course this is a strategic step because PSI even though it had supported Ganjar's candidacy, the latest dynamics show PSI is getting closer in relation with Prabowo Subianto," he said.

Ari added that Puan's political maneuver, which held meetings after meetings with various major political figures, showed that Bung Karno's grandson had carried out his duties well as Chair of the PDIP Winning Team in the 2024 Legislative and Presidential Elections.

"After previously meeting with senior Golkar Party figures, Jusuf Kalla and Luhut Panjaitan, Puan is increasingly showing her classes' in opening political spaces that allow to widen the support segment for the PDI-P support presidential candidate, namely Ganjar Pranowo," explained Ari.