Comparing Megawati and Puan, Gerindra Defends Jokowi When Kaesang Becomes PSI Chairman: Not Politic Of Dynasty

JAKARTA - The Gerindra Party is defending President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who is accused of carrying out dynastic politics by making his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, General Chair of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). The reason is, Kaesang, who had just entered politics, was suddenly appointed as leader of a political party.

Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, assessed that Kaesang's appointment as chairman of the PSI was far from the political term of the Jokowi dynasty. He also gave examples of several children of political party leaders who have strategic positions in the party.

"Yes, far away, for example, Ms. Puan, Mrs. Mega's daughter, you call it a dynasty, right? Yes, Mr. AHY is the son of Mr. SBY, a political dynasty, isn't it? Mrs. Mega is the daughter of Bung Karno, a political dynasty, isn't it? Yes, what is it like? What is clear is that this is not something negative in nature. This is very positive," said Habiburokhman at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 26.

"My son, who is now 12 years old, I have directed him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a politician," he continued.

Habiburokhman also did not see any attempt to criticize Jokowi for Kaesang's attitude in choosing a different party from his family. It is known that Jokowi is a PDIP cadre.

"No, we won't judge that far. Actually, it's a normal thing, right, there are young people joining political parties, and sometimes our children have their own choices that are different from ours. That's a normal thing too," he explained.

However, Habiburokhman was reluctant to comment further if Kaesang's appointment as PSI chairman was indirectly Jokowi's support for Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate.

"Yes, I don't know if it is linked to Mr. Jokowi. But yes, we see something positive in Mr. Kaesang joining PSI," he concluded.