Get To Know Projo: Jokowi Volunteer Movement

Jokowi when he met his winning volunteers, including Projo. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - No one doubts the popularity of Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The political figure was able to show his taering' in the national political contestation. He was able to become the mayor of Solo. He was even able to be elected governor of DKI Jakarta in 2012.

The victory made Jokowi a champion as a presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential election. Support also flowed. Instead of just political parties, but also from volunteer groups. Pro Jokowi (Projo), his name. Projo became a driving tool for political strategy to win Jokowi.

Entrepreneurs entering political arenas are commonplace. Jokowi has felt it. The furniture entrepreneur made the choice for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) as his political vehicle. The option brought many blessings.

Jokowi was able to transform as Mayor of Solo for two terms, from 2005 to 2012. This success was thanks to a series of breakthroughs made by Jokowi for Solo. Jokowi is not only good at managing infrastructure, but he also strengthens the identity of Solo City through branding The Spirit of Java.

His leadership is praised. Moreover, Jokowi often positions himself in favor of the small people, or the little people in the PDIP language. This partiality skyrocketed when Jokowi brought the popularity of Esemka's car to the national stage.

A car by the owner of the Kiat Motor Sukiyat workshop and the children of SMK. Esemka's car made Jokowi's name popular throughout the country. Even though the emission test failed. Jokowi's issue as a candidate for future leader is everywhere.

PDIP also did not want to lose momentum. Jokowi's high popularity was then packaged by PDIP to participate in the election contestation for the Governor of DKI Jakarta in 2012. Jokowi was 'paired' to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) from the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). Jokowi Ahok's duet was in fact able to talk a lot.

Jokowi-Ahok was able to skyrocket as the new Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta. This victory was predicted. The dominance was due to Jokowi's popularity, which Jakarta's saviors considered from all kinds of chronic problems such as floods and traffic jams.

Jokowi's Political Performance, Jokowi's spirit of leadership will determine Indonesia's success, the president has the authority to create a framework, value in regulating the nagara, a new leader of new policies. Jokowi has a communicative performance where Jokowi was initially less well known on the political stage during the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) era.

"Thanks to his success in building a solo city and his closeness to the media, his popularity has increased and he also has the opportunity to become governor of DKI Jakarta. However, because of his strong popularity, Jokowi finally became the choice of a big party to enter as the strongest presidential candidate," explained Muhammad Qadaruddin in the book Political Leadership of Perspective Communications (2016).

Jokowi's leadership in Jakarta is gaining success. His popularity is skyrocketing day by day. His breakthrough with Ahok often provoked mass media coverage. Moreover, his blusukan action. This narrative made Jokowi championed to advance in the 2014 presidential election political contestation.

At first, great popularity did not make Jokowi look at as President. The issue of Megawati-Jokowi actually appeared. The former President of Indonesia is considered to have a great opportunity to be nominated by PDIP as President compared to Jokowi.

The problem made the volunteer movement emerge. Mainly, from PDIP itself. The volunteer movement called Projo was born at the Projo I Congress on December 23, 2013. Its founder was dominated by PDIP cadres and 1998 student activists. From Budi Arie Setiadi to Fahmi Alhabsyi.

Projo's presence further implies the meaning that the right presidential candidate from PDIP is Jokowi, not Megawati. Projo continues to gather thousands of volunteers. In fact, Projo also jumped into PDIP cadres in the regions. The majority of PDIP cadres actually support Jokowi as a presidential candidate.

The results were brilliant. The aspirations were then heard by PDIP and Projo continued to play their central role to increase Jokowi's popularity. Jokowi, who later paired up with Jusuf Kalla (JK), won the 2014 presidential election. Both later became the new President and Vice President of Indonesia.

Projo is happy is not playing. Jokowi, who incidentally supported by a figure, was able to become the number one person in Indonesia. This condition did not make Projo disperse. Projo has actually become an organization that monitors the Jokowi government. In fact, to this day. Even Projo officials have participated in Jokowi in the government. Mainly, Budi Arie Setiadi, who is now the Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) from 17 June 2023.

Along with political dynamics in the country, a number of PDIP party cadres and sympathizers, as well as dozens of community members of the regions domiciled in DKI Jakarta to establish Projo organization in Jakarta on December 21, 2013. One Projo aspiration is to support Jokowi running as a candidate for President in 2014.

"The reason is that Jokowi is considered a person who is able to bring change to a better and more concrete direction. The Secretary of the Projo National Coordinator, Budi Arie Setiadi, said that currently he is passionate and supportive to fight for Jokowi to become a presidential candidate for the 2014 election is getting bigger and comes from various levels of community elements," said Damhuri Muhammad in the book Delivering to Gate (2014).