Fired By PDIP, Evidence That Jokowi Is Not Special

PDIP chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri walked with President Joko Widodo at the opening of the IV PDI-P National Working Meeting (Rakernas) at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Friday (29/9/2023). (ANTARA/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/Spt)

JAKARTA The PDI-P (PDIP) finally announced the dismissal of Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Candidate for Governor of North Sumatra Bobby Nasution from party membership.

With this dismissal, the Chairperson of the PDIP Honorary Division, Komarudin, emphasized that Jokowi was prohibited from carrying out activities and holding any position on behalf of the party bearing the white-nosed bull symbol.

Komarudin also emphasized that the PDIP DPP was no longer responsible for what Jokowi had done in the future. He then mentioned Jokowi, Gibran, and Bobby being fired along with 27 other PDIP members, but Komarudin did not mention in detail their names.

"As after the issuance of this dismissal letter, the PDI-P DPP has no relationship and is not responsible for what Jokowi's brother did," said Komarudin.

Jokowi's dismissal with his eldest son and son-in-law is actually not shocking news. Political observer from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Adi Prayitno saw the dismissal of Jokowi and his family as just a formality.

However, Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion Dedi Kurnia Syah predicts Jokowi's political power will weaken after being expelled by PDIP, except for those concerned from joining the elite party.

Jokowi Widodo joined the PDIP around 2004. The party chaired by Megawati Soekarnoputri is also the one who always carries the man born in Surakarta in various political contestations, from the election of the Mayor of Solo, the election of the Governor of Jakarta, to the Presidential Election.

Together with the PDIP flag, Jokowi also managed to occupy the highest position in Indonesia for ten years, after he won the presidential election twice in a row in 2014 and 2019.

However, Jokowi and PDIP's relationship heated up ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The former mayor of Solo did not provide support to Ganjar Pranowo, the presidential candidate who was promoted by the party where he took shelter. Jokowi instead provided support to his former rival, Prabowo Subianto, who later paired with his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka after the Constitutional Court's decision allowed the presidential and vice presidential candidates under the age of 40 to run in the presidential election as long as they had held public positions elected by election.

Since then, tensions between PDIP and Jokowi's camp have been unavoidable. PDIP does not consider this 63-year-old man as part of the party, although it has not yet issued an official dismissal decision.

Only on December 16, the party led by Megawati Soekarnoputri officially kicked out Jokowi and Gibran. The letter of dismissal of the two was stated in SK number 1650/KPTS/DPP/XII/2024 and 1651/KPTS/DPP/XII/2024 signed by PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri and PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto.

President Prabowo Subianto gave a press statement before leaving for an overseas visit to Egypt at Halim Perdanakusama Air Force Base, Jakarta, Tuesday (17/12/2024). (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti/aa)

However, Adi Prayitno considered this dismissal only a formality because Jokowi and PDIP had been separated since the 2024 presidential election.

So far, Jokowi and Gibran have been deemed no longer important to PDIP. So, this dismissal is only a formality that PDIP has been with Jokowi and Gibran," said Adi.

However, Adi believes that the dismissal of Jokowi and Gibran will not reduce their bargaining power when they want to join other political parties. He believes that both of them can easily change party clothes even though they have not been fired because they are no longer considered part of the PDIP.

"There is no effect on Jokowi and Gibran's bargaining power after being fired by PDIP. But other parties also know that Jokowi-Gibran is no longer part of the PDIP," said Adi.

Seeing Jokowi's actions in the political arena in the country, Adi believes that the seventh president can join young parties. Likewise with Gibran because he is currently vice president for the next five years.

The public certainly remembers when Megawati labeled Jokowi as a party official. The term party official has drawn controversy. Not only that, Megawati has also mentioned that 'Jokowi is no one without PDIP' who is considered to have contributed to raising his name in the political arena.

Megawati's claim is the pros and cons. Although some agree with the statement, not a few also consider Jokowi's success in winning the presidential election because his name is bigger than the party. The defeat of the red party in the 2024 presidential election is one proof that PDIP lost the spur without Jokowi.

However, Dedi Kurnia Syah has other views. This political observer of the IPO actually said that Jokowi's influence on voters or the public was not special. According to Dedi, what made Jokowi so far strong was because of his influence in the circle of power, and now the influence of power is gradually fading.

"Jokowi will remain strong if it is solid and gets Prabowo's compliance as president, otherwise the political elite will join forces to leave Jokowi," said Dedi to VOI.

On the same occasion, Dedi also predicts the 2029 election fight, where Jokowi's family will depend on the elite political parties that oversee him. Jokowi is no longer the determinant of victory, as happened in the last three editions. He believes Jokowi's influence will not have a significant impact, even though this small or medium-sized political party for the former governor of Jakarta will still be interesting.

PDIP's dismissal is also believed to have an impact on the political map in the 2029 presidential election. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is likely to be a challenger to President Prabowo Subianto for the next five years. This is where Jokowi's name becomes a bet, is his spa able to attract support to win his eldest son?

The 2029 election will be quite complicated, the fight between Prabowo and Gibran. Jokowi with his political record so far is likely to be prepared to leave Prabowo, but Gibran is not strong enough without the support of the big political parties," he explained.

"With the current dismissal of PDIP, where PDIP is the majority in Parliament, this will have an impact on Jokowi's political maneuvers going forward," said Dedi.