Kaesang Leading Political Parties Is Considered Positive Even Though It's Not New, Soekarno And Hatta Have Done It

The appointment of Kaesang Pangarep as chairman of PSI at a young age is a positive thing for Indonesian politics, although not new. (Doc. PSI)

Kaesang Pangarep now has a new position. He was officially appointed as General Chair (Ketum) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) DPP during Kopdarnas at Djakarta Theater, Senn (25/9/2923).

For many people, Kaesang's announcement as chairman of PSI was quite surprising. First, because the youngest son of President Joko Widodo has only been a member for about two days and received a PSI KTA. Second, especially if not because of his status as Jokowi's son, the President of the Republic of Indonesia won the last two editions of the election after being promoted by PDIP.

Kaesang's decision, which is different from Jokowi and his brother, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, was investigated by many circles.

A political observer from Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that Kaesang's joining PSI was the entrance to Jokowi's political route after stepping down from his position. According to him, Jokowi certainly doesn't want to just be a party official at PDIP after completing his duties as RI1. For this reason, Jokowi encouraged his youngest son to become chairman of PSI.

"That needs to be done because Jokowi is only a party official at the PDIP. Jokowi will not have power in the PDIP after his term as president," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 26.

By making Kaesang Ketum PSI, Jokowi can at least continue to take part in politics. Especially if PSI manages to qualify for Senayan, like Kaesang's target.

"PSI will also be able to be used to secure its political properties. This will be realized if PSI in the 2024 Pileg will at least become a party that enters Senayan," said Jamiluddin.

Political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Andriadi Achmad, has a slightly different view regarding the appointment of Kaesang Pangarep as chairman of PSI. Andriadi welcomed the emergence of Kaesang as chairman of a party. According to him, this is a positive signal for the younger generation of Indonesia.

This is a new light for the younger generation of Indonesia. Right now, the younger generation seems marginalized. Whereas in the 2024 election, more than 50% of voters are new voters from generation Z and the millennial generation," Andriadi told VOI.

Based on data from the General Elections Commission (KPU), voters aged 17 to 30 years were 63,963,031 people or 31.23 percent, while voters aged 31 to 40 years were 42,398,719 people or 20.70 percent. Combined, their votes are almost 52 percent.

Kaesang, who led PSI at a very young age, 28, also reminded Andriadi of Ir. Sukarno who led the Indonesian National Party (PNI) at the age of 26, and Muhammad Hatta who founded the Indonesian Association at the age of 25.

We need the regeneration of political party leadership. So the entry of Kaesang as party leader at a young age is history. Young people have a different leadership spirit. This must be followed by other youths. Because to change a policy must go through politics. How can you change policies if young people don't participate in politics," said Andri explaining at length.

Asked about the possibility of Kaesang as Jokowi's'stepping stone' to build a political dynasty, Andriadi has different views. According to him, the opportunity for Jokowi's political dynasty is still far away, especially since PSI is basically not owned by Jokowi's family, unlike what happened in the Democratic Party between Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, assessed that the determination of Kaesang to become chairman of PSI was far from the political term of the Jokowi dynasty. He also gave an example of several children of political party leaders who have strategic positions in the party.

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

Kaesang immediately set a high target after being elected as Chairman of PSI. Kaesang admitted that he wanted to bring PSI through the parliamentary threshold of 4 percent of the votes in the 2024 Legislative Election and its legislative candidates managed to become members of the DPR for the 2024-2029 period.

"I am an optimistic person but I don't have to be grandiose. My target, God willing, PSI will pass the 4 percent Parliamentary Threshold, and PSI factions will be in Senayan in 2024," said Kaesang in PSI National Land Coffee (Kopdarnas) at Djakarta Theater, Central Jakarta, Monday, September 25.

Andriadi saw that Kaesang's entry to PSI was a positive signal for the party founded by Grace Natalie. PSI will benefit from Jokowi's effect or Jokowi's effect and this can be seen from the presence of Jokowi volunteers during the inauguration of Kaesang yesterday.

"PSI can pass the Parliamentary Death Threshold thanks to Jokowi's effect. The presence of hundreds of Jokowi volunteers can be a sign that Jokowi's supporters' voices have fallen to PSI," said Andriadi.

"You could say this is a blessing in disguise. PSI was able to pass parliament thanks to Jokowi and Kaesang's effect. This is PSI's smooth road to Senayan," Andriadi said again.

Furthermore, Habiburokhman hopes that Kaesang's presence at PSI can encourage the party to actually support Prabowo Subianto in the 2024 presidential election.

"Mas Kaesang has a close relationship with Pak Prabowo, we know, even Mas Kaesang has a t-shirt with a picture of Pak Prabowo being worn several times," said Habiburokhman.

"We hope that by joining Mas Kaesang to PSI, who knows, we can bring PSI concretely and officially support Pak Prabowo as the 2024 presidential candidate," said Habiburokhman again.