Considered No Longer Part of PDI Perjuangan, Here's Jokowi's Reaction

President Jokowi's smile grew when asked about his membership status in the PDI Perjuangan.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo provided a statement to journalists after opening the National Health Coordination Meeting for the year 2024 in the BSD area, Tangerang Regency, Banten on Wednesday (24/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Joko Widodo's membership status in the PDI Perjuangan seems to be hanging in the balance. President Jokowi was reluctant to submit a letter of dismissal, nor did the PDI-P fire him as a bull party cadre.

Chairman of the Honorary Division of the PDI-P Central Leadership Council (DPP) Komarudin Watubun said Jokowi and his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, were no longer considered PDI-P cadres . This is because President Jokowi chose to support the presidential and vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and Gibran. Meanwhile, PDI-P is carrying Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.

"Ah, people are already (taking sides) over there (Prabowo-Gibran), how can you say they are still part of the PDI Perjuangan. "That's true," said Komarudin to Kompas, Monday (22/4/2024), at the PDI-P DPP Office, Jakarta.

Also read: MK: Needs a Change in Executive Neutrality Paradigm, President Must Restrain Himself

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Chairman of the Honorary Division of the DPP PDI Perjuangan Party, Komarudin Watubun, was met in his room at the Parliament Building, Jakarta, Tuesday (31/10/2023).

Although never directly stating support of Prabowo-Gibran, allegations regarding President Jokowi's bias were presented in the presidential election dispute lawsuit at the Constitutional Court. The distribution of social assistance by President Jokowi, which intensified leading up to the election, was even deemed to influence voters' choices.

Also read: MK Rejects Application of Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar-Mahfud, Three Judges "Dissenting Opinion"

This is generally stated as not proven in the MK verdict. However, three judges of the Constitutional Court - Saldi Isra, Enny Nurbaningsih, and Arief Hidayat - also consider that social assistance, the non-neutrality of officials and acting regional heads, have an electoral influence.

When asked about the assumption that he is no longer a member of the PDI-P cadre, President Jokowi did not give a clear response. He simply smiled and said, "Well, thank you." The President then quickly left the journalists and refused to give any further comments.

Also read: Jokowi-Megawati relations are increasingly strained

Komarudin stated that PDI-P did not revoke Jokowi's membership status in the party. He said, as quoted by Kompas.com on April 23, 2024, that there was a slightly different approach. "Why is it different? Because Mr. Jokowi is a cadre who has reached the highest level of becoming president and of course, we also maintain his ethics and honor," he explained.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, had a conversation with the Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, at Angkringan Omah Semar in Surakarta, Central Java, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. On that occasion, Prabowo was supported by a group of volunteer supporters of Gibran and Jokowi.

Gibran Status

Not only Jokowi, but Gibran's status as a cadre of the PDI-P is also considered to have disappeared after running as a vice presidential candidate alongside Prabowo and against the presidential and vice presidential candidates supported by the PDI-P. "Gibran is no longer a party cadre. I have said this since he made the decision (to become Prabowo's vice presidential candidate)," he said on Monday (22/4/2024).

The lies Gibran told to the PDI-P were also brought up. When he wanted to become the mayor candidate of Surakarta, Gibran once emphasized that he would be loyal to the PDI-P. Even in the PDI-P National Working Meeting attended by PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri in June 2023, Gibran also admitted that he would remain in the PDI-P even if he was approached by other parties.

Also read: Jokowi-Gibran are no longer in PDI Perjuangan, is it possible to join Golkar?

The issue of air pollution is not new. The community has long been threatened by air pollution. There is also a significant amount of research evidence indicating the impact of air pollution. However, this has not yet pushed for significant efforts to control air pollution. As a result, residents are increasingly suffering from the effects of air pollution. According to the Chairman of the DPP PDI-P, Ahmad Basarah, the PDI-P has not yet decided whether to stay outside the government and become the opposition or to join the coalition supporting the government. Prabowo himself is reportedly going to meet with Puan Maharani, the daughter of Megawati, before preparing a meeting with the chairman of the party with the white bull's horn.