Secretary General Hasto: PDI-P Saddened and Disheartened, Granted Great Privileges to Joko Widodo, But He Has Abandoned the Party

By Ikhsan Abdul Hakim for Kompas.TV

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.TV – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary General Mr. Hasto Kristiyanto confirmed that his party is feeling sorrow and disappointment as they sense they have been “abandoned” by one of its members who has served as the president, President Joko Widodo.

Hasto made these remarks in light of President Joko Widodo’s maneuvers in endorsing his eldest son, Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to become vice presidential running mate for Mr. Prabowo Subianto, competing against PDI-P’s endorsed candidate Mr. Ganjar Pranowo.

Mr. Hasto mentioned that a significant number of grassroots PDI-P members can not believe that their most successful member has turned his back on the party.

“PDI-P is currently in a somber state, feeling disheartened and is surrendering to God and the Indonesian people for what is happening now,” stated Hasto, on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Mr. Hasto pointed out that PDI-P had granted “significant” privileges to Joko Widodo and his family. He emphasized that PDI-P and its grassroots supporters supported Joko Widodo from his time as the mayor of Solo in Central Java until he became the president.

“When the Party’s national executive council met with the rank and file of its sub-branches and branches at the bottom of the Party structure, many could not believe this could happen,” expressed Mr. Hasto, as quoted by Kompas.com.

“We have genuinely cared for and extended substantial privileges to President Joko Widodo and his family, but we have been let down because there are still other requests that have the potential to breach proper practice and the Constitution,” he continued.

As previously reported by Kompas.tv, the nomination of President Joko Widodo’s son, Mr. Gibran, as Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mr. Prabowo Subianto’s vice presidential running mate has ignited internal controversy within PDI-P because President Joko Widodo’s son still holds party membership. Several parties have also viewed Mr. Gibran and President Widodo’s actions as an attempt to perpetuate a political dynasty.

Mr. Gibran’s smooth path to becoming a vice-presidential candidate can not be separated from the recent ruling of the Indonesian Constitutional Court allowing vice-presidential candidates under 40 years of age, provided they have previously held positions as regional heads elected through general elections. The court’s decision has created controversy because the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Chief Justice Anwar Usman, is Gibran’s uncle.

---

This article is based on: https://www.kompas.tv/nasional/456293/hasto-pdi-p-sedih-dan-terluka-hati-beri-privilese-besar-ke-jokowi-tetapi-ditinggalkan