Projo Controversy: Disappointed Volunteer Movement Jokowi Appoints Prabowo As Defense Minister

The support banner for the Projo volunteer movement to Jokowi. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - No one doubts that the existence of Projo supports the career of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) polylic. The volunteer movement led by Budi Arie Setiadi is loyal to his upholding. This loyalty brought Jokowi to be Indonesia's number one person.

Recently, Projo-Jokowi's relationship has deteriorated. Everything is because Jokowi collaborated with Prabowo Subianto to become Minister of Defense (Menhan). Projo considers Prabowo's presence to be like a foreigner in the fight against intolerance and human rights violations.

The emergence of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on the political stage of Indonesia is phenomenal. The popularity of the Mayor of Solo, then the Governor of DKI Jakarta, skyrocketed. Jokowi is predicted to be the leader of Indonesia in the future.

All cadres of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and student activists in 1998 immediately took action. They formed a volunteer movement called Projo in late 2013. Budi Arie Setiadi was asked to be a leader.

Projo's presence was able to become one of the forces that encouraged PDIP and Megawati Soekarnoputri to choose Jokowi as a presidential candidate in the 2014 presidential election. Projo also worked hard to win Jokowi. The result was brilliant. Jokowi was able to beat Prabowo Subianto.

Jokowi became the 7th President of Indonesia since 2014. This victory made Jokowi have a debt of gratitude to Projo. Jokowi has repeatedly praised Projo as a big volunteer movement, not a cardboard volunteer. He considered Projo to have high loyalty and militancy.

Projo is also described as having a high patriot spirit. A soul that makes Projo have an important role in building the nation and state. Jokowi also sees Projo's future as one of the big mass organizations in the future.

As a result, Jokowi did not hesitate to look at his dreams of participating in the 2019 presidential election. He wants to continue his power to a second term. A condition that makes Jokowi dependent on the support of Projo.

"I believe that the Projo volunteers are not cardboard volunteers, really volunteers who (have) militancy, have a high fighting spirit, want to participate in improving this country. This (direction) is so that fellow volunteers have enthusiasm, have high militancy, they want to do good for the country. .

"From the beginning, we always expressed optimism, conveyed programs, conveyed what we had done. I think this is indeed once again, this contestation must be filled with program contestations, program competitions, idea competitions, ideas. I think this will be wary of and finalize ways of politics in the community," said Jokowi as quoted by the website. , September 16, 2018.

Projo's support for Jokowi continued to be given until Jokowi won in the 2019 presidential election. This victory made Projo confident that his members would be appointed by Jokowi as minister in a period of two powers. Instead of getting a place, Jokowi actually provides space for his political opponents.

The Gerindra Party and Prabowo Subianto, who incidentally opposed Jokowi's politics, were actually embraced. Prabowo himself got a position as Minister of Defense in the United Indonesia Cabinet on October 23, 2019. This condition made Projo furious, not playing.

Projo felt they had fought all out against Prabowo. As a result, Projo did not get an important portion in government. Political reality is difficult to accept. Moreover, Prabowo's image is considered by Projo to be contrary to the principles raised by Jokowi.

Prabowo considers Prabowo's presence will make Jokowi's image bad. Prabowo is considered close to the narrative of intolerance to human rights violators. In fact, Projo thinks that Prabowo has not been tested for his loyalty to serving the nation and state.

"The rivals (Prabowo) who lost the presidential election because of the people's resistance to intolerance, anti-democracy, and human rights violations actually got an honorable position in the cabinet. Those who were not tested for loyalty were trusted to take care of this country," explained Secretary General Projo, Handoko as quoted on the website.com, October 23, 2019.

This dynamic makes Projo plan to disperse. Because their mission to win Jokowi has been completed. They were also disappointed with Jokowi's decision to vote for Prabowo. Later, Jokowi's wish to disband was immediately suppressed by appointing Budi Arie as an official.

Budi Arie, who incidentally led Projo, was appointed Deputy Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration for the 2019-2023 era. Then, Budi Arie's career skyrocketed to become Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) for the 2023-2024 era.

"Projo did not disband. Projo's opposition to Prabowo ended. A little bit has started to have love," he said.

"Yes, we want to say goodbye, but it's assigned again, what about it? It means like it or not, because Projo is loyal to the people line. As long as there is Mr. Jokowi, Projo will still exist. Because Projo is the top five and militant supporters of Pak Jokowi," said Budi Arie as quoted by the Indonesian CNN page, October 25, 2019.