Guessing The Political Parties Where Jokowi Leaned On After Being Expelled By PDIP

Joko Widodo met with President Prabowo Subianto on Jl. Kertanegara, South Jakarta after the former president was sacked by PDIP. (Instagram/@prabowo)

JAKARTA Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is now not a party after he was expelled by the PDI-P (PDIP). The opportunity to establish his own party is open, because he is known to have loyal followers. However, political observers consider this step difficult to take.

Jokowi's relationship with PDIP came to light after the party that had overseen him since 2004 made a decision to dismiss him. A total of 27 cadres were expelled by the party led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, including Jokowi's eldest son and son-in-law, Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Bobby Nasution.

The dismissal was only carried out after the 2024 Presidential Election was completed, although the cold relationship between the two had occurred in at least the past year. The reason is because PDIP adheres to the principle of maintaining Jokowi's dignity while serving as President of Indonesia.

After being officially unemployed and not tied to any party, Jokowi's future in the political arena is a puzzle. Where will he anchor? Will Jokowi actually create a new party?

Jokowi has always been under the PDIP's flag since he decided to be involved in politics in 2004. Starting from the election of the Mayor of Solo, the election for the Governor of Jakarta, to the presidential election which he won in two editions before the 2024 presidential election.

The seventh President of Indonesia is also known to have a loyal line of supporters. Because he is so loyal to Jokowi, a community organization called Projo was formed which was confirmed on December 23, 2013. The declarators are PDIP cadres and 1998 student activists. Now Projo is being monitored by Budi Arie Setiadi.

This Projo loyalty is also said to have played a major role in Jokowi's success in defeating Prabowo Subianto in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. Seeing this, Executive Director of the Nusantara Institute Political Communication Studies and Research Center (PolCom SRC) Andriadi Achmad did not cover up the fact that Jokowi is one of the presidents who has many followers and sympathizers.

Therefore, according to Andriadi, Jokowi's dismissal by PDIP will have an impact on voters in the future, because he is one of the party's potential cadres.

The PSI billboard of Jokowi's party had spread to a number of locations in Jakarta. (Ist)

"At least how many Jokowi volunteer organizations were born to the surface, REALly during Jokowi as PDIP cadres tend to vote for PDIP in every election," said Andriadi.

"After the PDIP officially fired Jokowi, the entire supporters and followers immediately left PDIP," he added.

On the same occasion, Andriadi said Jokowi would lose significant power after he no longer served as the number one person in Indonesia. However, with a solid line of supporters, Jokowi's political career will not subside. He believes that a number of parties such as Gerindra, Golkar, PAN, and PSI are ready to roll out the carpet of honor to welcome Jokowi as part of his political party.

"This means showing that Jokowi still has power in Indonesian politics," said Andriadi, who is also a lecturer at Al Azhar University Indonesia.

"For the place to dock, we'll just have to wait for the game date," Andriadi replied when discussing which party would be Jokowi's next destination.

Before being officially fired, Jokowi was linked to a number of parties. PSI is claimed to be happy to accept the presence of this man who was born in Solo. When Airlangga Hartarto surprisingly announced his resignation as the chairman of Golkar, he was also briefly associated with Jokowi. The election of Bahlil Lahadia, Jokowi's right hand, as the successor of Airlangga, was also allegedly one way to bring Jokowi into the party bearing the banyan tree symbol.

Not to mention the statement by the Secretary General of PAN Eko Patrio who said his party was very open to accepting Jokowi. He was seen visiting Prabowo Subianto at the president's residence some time ago, after the dismissal by PDIP. This meeting in Kertanegara sparked speculation that Jokowi would join Gerindra.

DPP daily chairman Gerindra Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said Gerindra was an open party. However, he admitted that he did not know Jokowi's plans in the future, whether to join his party or have other plans.

Until now, there is no sign of where he will dock. Andriadi said that Jokowi's political career was still relatively stable and long considering his family, Gibran and Bobby, as well as the youngest and chairman of PSI Kaesang Pangarep still needed direction and guidance so that on the track in the future.

So no matter what, Jokowi will guide his dynasty. Several political parties with wide doors offered for Jokowi to enter his home after being fired by PDIP, such as Gerindra, Golkar, PAN, PSI and others," said Andriadi.

Karena parpol tersebut masih merasakan getaran Jokowieffrelative berpengaruh dalam elektoral pemilu ke depan. Namun, paling realist Jokowi mempini trahnya di PSI sebagai Ketua Dewan Pembina PSI, imbuhnya.

In addition to joining the existing party, the news that Jokowi formed a new party also moved after being expelled by PDIP. Many people think this is a realistic step considering that Jokowi has loyalists spread across the archipelago.

In addition, the formation of a new party can also prove who is stronger between Jokowi and PDIP. Because if you finally choose to join the existing party, how strong Jokowi's power will not be seen. But according to Andriadi, this option is very risky for Jokowi.

Jokowi will count if he will create a new political party, of course, it requires great hard work and financial support. Most realistic in raising PSI with Si Bungsu, Kaesang Pangarep," he concluded.