The relationship between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has become increasingly tenous and distant following his absence at the celebration of the party’s 51th anniversary in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Political Analyst Emrus Sihombing said a party’s birthday is an important
event, because it is not a mere ceremony, but there are also political statements.
“Even more, the celebration is ahead of the election, attending the party’s birthday event actually shows the solidity of party cadres. Joko Widodo should be present to show solidity,” Emrus told the aid told Indonesia Bussiness Post on Thursday.
The 51st Anniversary Commemoration of PDI-P was held at the Party Cadre School in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta in the absence of Jokowi, who is on a six-day tour to three ASEAN countries − the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam.
Emrus said other parties, as competitors, can interpret that his absence in the anniversary commemoration as an indication that Jokowi-PDI-P relation has become increasingly tenous and distant. What is actually happened here, in Emrus
opinion, Jokowi’s political interest can no longer be realized inside the PDIP as before.
As a politician, Jokowi has won almost all the political battles, securing two terms of Surakarta mayorship, being elected as Jakarta governors although he did not complete his five-year term as he contested the 2014 presidential election, which he won, and got reelected in the 2019 election.
“President Jokowi’s absence at the PDI-P anniversary commemoration can be interpreted as a traitor,” he said, while quoting an Indonesian proverb that literally symbolizing an attitude of a traitor.
Emrus, however, added that it is understandable if Jokowi had requested for permission before he left for an overseas trip.
“But as far as I read in the media, he did not seek permission from his party to leave the country,” he said.
He said further that Jokowi is legally still a member of PDI-P because he still has the party’s membership card, but in reality he is no longer a PDI-P cadre.
“It is better for Jokowi to leave PDI-P and return his party membership card because the 1945 Constitution guarantees one’s freedom of association and freedom of assembly,” Emrus said.
