The 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, officially began a series of political safaris alongside the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in Lampung on Friday (26/6/2026). The three-day visit focused on transmigrant enclave areas, which have long been known as a significant mass base in the province.
During his visit, Jokowi was seen wearing full PSI attire, ranging from a shirt to a hat featuring the logo of the party led by his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep. This appearance was seen by many as a clear symbol of the shift in Jokowi's political affiliation from PDI-P to PSI, as well as an effort to consolidate support for the party so it can pass the parliamentary threshold in the 2029 Election.
Political observer from the University of Lampung, Robi Cahyadi Kurniawan, viewed this move as a tactical strategy to secure the Jokowi family's political influence. According to him, the former president's presence on the ground is a tangible effort to nurture constituents while strengthening the political positions of Gibran and Kaesang on the national stage.
Responding to the maneuver, several major political parties expressed a relatively calm stance. The Deputy General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that the activity was a normal occurrence. Echoing this sentiment, Golkar Party Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji and PAN Deputy General Chair Viva Yoga Mauladi emphasized that they did not feel threatened by Jokowi's movements with PSI.
On the other hand, criticism came from PDI-P politician Guntur Romli, who viewed this safari as an early campaign effort toward the 2029 Election. He even highlighted the potential shift in political support, particularly regarding Gibran's position in future political constellations. Although no longer serving as head of state, the public enthusiasm greeting Jokowi at various points of his visit shows that his political influence remains quite strong at the grassroots level.
