Organization behind the electoral ambition
"It won't be possible for us to succeed if we only depend on a figure," Ahmad Ali said at PSI's Regional Coordination Meeting at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC) in Bogor Regency, West Java, on October 24, 2026, according to Kompas.com.
The call for community outreach follows a series of visits by Jokowi, Indonesia's seventh president and a key figure for PSI. Ali said even a leader with a large following needs an organized party network to bring supporters together and direct their support toward candidates. He also said Jokowi had asked him to stress the importance of building that organization.
At the same meeting, Ali set a goal of placing at least among the top three parties nationwide in the upcoming elections. He said the significant public response gave him confidence that the target was attainable, Kompas.com's English edition reported.
PSI has yet to win representation in Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR), despite contesting the 2019 and 2024 elections, according to Tempo.co. Its preparations for 2029 aim to clear the parliamentary threshold for the first time. Ali described the effort as starting early, not improperly getting ahead of the election schedule, and said the party could adapt to whatever threshold applies.
Local staffing and recruitment targets
PSI's organizational targets call for 10 members at the village level, 15 at the subdistrict level, 25 at the district level and 45 at the provincial level. Regional and local working meetings are reviewing the party's structures against these targets and its organizational regulations.
Ali had reported substantial progress by August 2026. According to Tempo.co, he said about 90 percent of district and city leadership structures and about 90 percent of subdistrict structures had been formed, while provincial leadership was complete. Separately, PSI was assembling provincial election-winning teams of 35 to 40 people so it would not need to rebuild them after party verification.
Recruitment goals were set earlier in the year. At the close of PSI's First National Working Meeting (Rakernas I) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on January 31, 2026, the party targeted 10 million membership cards (KTA). Every cadre was expected to recruit at least 500 members, regardless of whether they planned to run for a legislative seat, ANTARA News reported.
The organizing effort is being carried out under the direction of General Chairman Kaesang Pangarep, Jokowi's youngest son, according to ANTARA News. Tempo.co reported that PSI also replaced its rose logo with an elephant after its July 19-20, 2025, congress in Surakarta, Central Java, as part of its consolidation ahead of 2029.
Jokowi's visits and formal role
Jokowi pledged to help PSI prepare for the 2029 election when he addressed cadres at the January 31 working meeting in Makassar. According to ANTARA News, he said he was willing to visit provinces, districts, cities and even subdistricts to strengthen the party.
He subsequently traveled with PSI to Lampung on June 26-28, 2026, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) from July 31 to August 2. Those trips included regional coordination meetings and meetings with cadres and residents, Beritasatu.com reported.
At a regional coordination meeting in Bandung on September 26, Jokowi displayed his PSI membership card and disclosed that he had joined the party on October 14, 2025. According to Beritasatu.com, he is scheduled to be inaugurated as chairman of PSI's Board of Trustees (Dewan Pembina) on November 16, 2026.
Support for government programs
Following its January working meeting, PSI also committed to supporting and overseeing the strategic programs of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's government. ANTARA News reported that Ali asked regional party leaders to actively support and supervise the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in particular.
