The Drama of KTA and Jokowi's Gamble with PSI
IT IS NOT Joko Widodo if he doesn't know how to capture public attention. In Bandung, West Java, the seventh president announced something significant.
Bandung is the city where Sukarno grew up and founded the Indonesian National Unity. This organization evolved into the Indonesian National Party (PNI), which inspired the PDI Perjuangan.
According to Jokowi, he has been a member of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) since October 14, 2025. He then displayed his membership card (KTA) along with its number in front of PSI cadres gathered at a hotel in Bandung on Saturday, September 26.
Some might say it is not wrong to suggest that he has been nurturing some drama over the past year. This is not entirely wrong, as politics increasingly comes with its theatrics.
The podcast channel "Loving Indonesia" on YouTube once uploaded an interview with one of the PSI DPP chairs on October 24, 2025, ten days after Jokowi obtained his KTA.
However, the source still kept Jokowi's presence in PSI a secret. At that time, PSI's website simply referenced the initial "J" in the position of chairman of the Advisory Board. This is a riddle that other political parties rarely indulge in.
Jokowi attended key PSI events from Solo to Makassar. Over the last year, the narrative surrounding Jokowi's role in that elephant party has remained ambiguous.
It has long been suspected that Jokowi supports this party, especially for the 2024 elections. The momentum became clearer when his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, was appointed as PSI's chairman in September 2023.
As a result, the bond between Jokowi and PSI became increasingly tight. PSI unequivocally shifted its orientation, from being highly critical of Prabowo Subianto to supporting the coalition under the banner of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition in the 2024 Presidential election.
I suspect Jokowi is the one pulling PSI's wagon, taking it from an 'opponent' to a 'friend' of Prabowo. A brilliant shift in practical political terms.
It is well known that Prabowo successfully recruited Kaesang's brother, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential candidate and subsequently won the 2024 Presidential election. PSI joined the cabinet with a share of ministerial and deputy ministerial posts.
If there exists a small political party, not represented in the parliament, that commands respect from President Prabowo, it must be PSI. This is because behind PSI stands Jokowi, the mentor who has undeniably aided the victory of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo's son.
Even though he announced that he possesses a KTA, Jokowi's position within PSI remains undisclosed. Kaesang suggested that inquiries should be directed to Grace Natalie. However, she deflected, saying let Jokowi make the announcement himself (Tirto.id, 28/9/2026).
When that will happen remains a closely guarded secret. Perhaps until PSI's structural expansion reaches the rural areas. This resembles a serialized drama with the conclusion handed over to the director. And that director is Jokowi himself.
Such is the luxury that Jokowi possesses, a former politician from PDI Perjuangan known for his personable styleβsince being the mayor of Solo, Governor of Jakarta, and the seventh President of Indonesia.
