The First Term Of Party Officers To Jokowi

President Jokowi and PDI-P cadres gave a speech at the PDI-P 50th Anniversary in Jakarta, Tuesday (10/1/2023). (Between/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga/pri)

JAKARTA - Megawati Soekarnoputri and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) have a big role in raising Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on the political stage. His blessing made Jokowi gentle as a leader. From the Mayor of Surakarta, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, to the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

This narrative makes Megawati often refer to Jokowi as a party official. The term is now being heard more and more often. Jokowi is also expected to be able to carry out the PDIP ideology. Then, how did the term party officials to Jokowi initially appear?

Jokowi's existence in politics comes from Solo, Central Java. The furniture entrepreneur is attracted to politics. Megawati realized this wish and her political machine, PDIP. Jokowi got the right vehicle to move forward as Mayor of Surakarta.

The results were brilliant. The collaboration between Jokowi and PDIP resulted in victory. Not only once, but twice. Jokowi also served as Mayor of Surakarta for two periods, from 2005 to 2012. Jokowi continues to prove that the choice of the people of Surakarta is not wrong.

The man who was born in Surakarta, June 21, 1961, immediately showed his capacity in terms of city planning. He tried to beautify Surakarta. His sensitivity to the small people is also visible. All kinds of policies that perpetuate the lives of the small people are carried out.

Jokowi also did not hesitate to meet the demonstrators every time there was a demonstration in front of his office. Jokowi also went down to find a solution to every problem. Then, Jokowi tried to introduce the car created by the son of the Surakarta area, Esemka.

This success made Jokowi transform into a idol. Jokowi's life performance, especially when he led Surakarta, was reported here and there. He was hailed like the leader of Indonesia's future. As a result, Jokowi's name on the national map is getting more and more famous.

Megawati and PDIP did not want to give up the opportunity. Jokowi was also promoted in the 2012 DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election. PDIP then paired Jokowi with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Cawagub from the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

Both of them who used the attributes of the plaid clothes immediately won the votes of Jakarta residents. The party machine also perpetuated the invitation to bring votes to Jokowi-Ahok. The full support of PDIP and Gerindra made both of them elected as the new Governor and Deputy of DKI Jakarta.

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 the city of Solo 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).

Megawati and PDIP began to see the enthusiasm of the Indonesian people for the figure of Jokowi. Initially, Megawati wanted to run alone in the political contestation of the presidential election. However, that wish was not carried out. Megawati assessed that Jokowi's figure was more supportive of the PDIP's desire to win the 2014 presidential election.

The governor of DKI Jakarta was finally nominated by PDIP and other supporting parties PKB, NasDem, Hanura -- as a presidential candidate. The narrative made Megawati warn Jokowi. Megawati doesn't want Jokowi to be a peanut to forget his skin.

He called Jokowi a party official. Megawati first revealed the statement in the declaration of the coalition of political parties that carried Jokowi at the PDIP DPP office, Lenteng Agung, on May 14, 2014. Jokowi is expected to be able to carry out the PDIP mandate. Then, Jokowi was nominated with the famous politician, Jusuf Kalla (JK).

"I said Jokowi, until I made it a presidential candidate, don't just remember the presidential candidate, but it is party officials who must carry out all party mandates," Megawati said as quoted on the JPNN page, May 14, 2014.

The narrative of party officials caused a stir. The general public considers that if Jokowi is later elected, then he is considered a puppet president. However, Jokowi dismissed this. Jokowi admitted that he was indeed a party official. But, not necessarily he became the doll president.

Everything will change when the party official has served an important position. From the mayor to the president. He considered the party not to be involved. Megawati did not care. He considers anyone who uses a PDIP machine, then they are party officials.

Statements related to PDIP cadres in party officials' governments continue to be repeated. Jokowi is the most highlighted. Megawati said that Jokowi would not be able to become President of Indonesia without PDIP. Jokowi is expected to comply with party instructions and ideologies.

Megawati said that whoever did not want to be called a party official, then please leave the PDIP. Megawati feels solid with the term party official for her cadres in the government. He never corrected the term. Even to this day.

"Remember you are party officials. The party officer is an extension of the party. If you don't want to be called party officials, please leave the party," Megawati said in her closing speech at the Fourth Congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in Sanur, Bali, as quoted by Antara, April 9, 2015.