PDIP Expels Surabaya Cadre for Visiting and Defending Jokowi

The central executive board of the PDI Perjuangan (DPP PDIP) has officially expelled its cadre from Surabaya, Achmad Hidayat, after he allegedly visited and defended President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Achmad, the former Deputy Secretary of the DPC PDIP for Surabaya City, was deemed to have committed several serious violations, including alleged abuse of authority and political maneuvers to defend Jokowi, who was previously ousted from PDIP. This firm sanction is stipulated in Decree of the DPP PDIP Number 105/KPTS/DPP/IX/2026, signed directly by the Chairman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Secretary General, Hasto Kristiyanto, in Jakarta on September 4, 2026. In the decree, the DPP PDIP initially detailed a series of alleged ethical and disciplinary violations that led to Achmad's expulsion from party membership. These ranged from abuse of authority and demanding and receiving money under unprovable pretenses to intimidating party officials and bringing party documents without approval. He had previously received a sanction of dismissal from his position for violating the party's Articles of Association and By-laws. In addition to these administrative and ethical violations, Achmad's maneuver of visiting Jokowi's residence after the former president's ouster from the party also drew scrutiny from the DPP PDIP. Not only did he visit, but Achmad reportedly made a public statement urging the party to rehabilitate Jokowi as a cadre. "Achmad Hidayat visited Joko Widodo's house and a few days later made a statement asking the party to consider rehabilitating Joko Widodo as a PDI Perjuangan cadre who has been expelled," the decree stated. Achmad's actions were considered to have exceeded his authority as a cadre. The bull-symbolized party views Achmad's stance as a form of open defiance against the party's absolute decision. "It is a form of disobedience to the Party's Decision, as the expulsion of Joko Widodo has been carried out in accordance with the applicable mechanisms and provisions in PDI Perjuangan," it continued. Based on the recommendation from the PDIP Ethics and Disciplinary Committee issued on August 28, 2026, the DPP concluded that all of Achmad's actions fell into the category of severe violations. "The actions and stance of Achmad Hidayat as mentioned above have damaged the good name, dignity, authority, and honor of the Party, eroded public trust in the party, and constitute a violation of the Code of Ethics and Discipline of Party Members categorized as a severe violation," it stated. With the issuance of this decision, all of Achmad Hidayat's rights, obligations, and positions within PDIP are officially revoked. He is now strictly prohibited from using the name, symbol, attributes, or acting on behalf of PDIP in any of his political activities. This decision has also been directly forwarded to the DPD PDIP of East Java and the DPC PDIP of Surabaya City. Responding to the expulsion, Achmad Hidayat revealed the beginning of his summons by the party's ethics committee, led by DPP PDIP official Sadarestuwati, on August 26, 2026. Achmad confirmed that his visit to Jokowi's residence in July 2026 was the main trigger. He came on his own initiative after visiting the tomb of Mbah Kiai Hasan Besari in Ponorogo. The visit was made with a senior PDIP cadre, Sulikan, and another colleague. During the ethics hearing, Achmad was questioned about his purpose in meeting Jokowi. He claimed the meeting was merely a social visit. To the ethics committee, Achmad openly recounted his conversation with Jokowi at the time. "'Then what did you talk about there?' Oh, nothing, just shook hands, then took a photo. Then I also asked, Sir [Jokowi], what about the affairs of this nation? We must be united. Don't you have any desire to meet Mrs. Megawati? You meet with Mr. Prabowo often, right?" Achmad said, repeating his question when he met Jokowi. During the meeting, Jokowi responded casually, stating he had no problems with Megawati, the highest leader of PDIP. "'I have no problem with Mrs. Mega, and someday we will surely meet,'" Achmad quoted Jokowi as saying. However, the DPP PDIP suspected other political motives behind the visit, including rumors of his move to the Solidaritas Indonesia Party (PSI). Achmad denied these accusations and strongly criticized the party's stance, which he deemed excessive. "DPP said, 'Ah, just chatting like that? Most likely there are other steps, you want to move to PSI and so on.' Look, if I were still a PDIP cadre, other PDIP cadres who go there [Jokowi's house], whether they are DPP officials, DPR RI members, even Regents, Mayors, many go there but secretly," he said. "Look, I am clear, I posted it because? I have the principle that PDIP's AD/ART adheres to Pancasila of June 1st, the 1945 Constitution, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," Achmad added, emphasizing his adherence to principles. He regretted PDIP's attitude of closing communication with fellow countrymen due to past mistakes or conflicts, while being very open to foreigners. "I apologize, DPP PDI can shake hands, embrace foreign ambassadors, with foreigners. Whereas with our own countrymen, just because of a slight mistake or miscommunication in the past, we immediately 'paten-pinaten' (kill each other) like this," he said. Upon returning from the ethics hearing, Achmad issued three statements of position on his way back to Surabaya. These three points included the restoration of rights for DPC and branch officials, a proposal for Jokowi to be rehabilitated as a cadre in accordance with the party's AD/ART, and the oversight of the Asset Forfeiture Bill. Shortly after these statements were disseminated, the decree for his expulsion was issued. Regarding the expulsion sanction, he stated that he accepted it with grace and expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity by PDIP to help win the Surabaya regional elections for two terms for the Eri Cahyadi-Armuji pair, and to win Tri Rismaharini in the East Java gubernatorial election in the Surabaya region. Achmad confirmed that there had been no offers from PSI to date. "I am grateful to have been given the opportunity, and although my contribution was small, very small politically in PDI Perjuangan, I am grateful. However, I only hold firmly to the mandate that PDI is part of the Republic of Indonesia, whose foundation is Pancasila, the Constitution, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. If the party's DPP currently sees my actions as prioritizing party matters over national matters, then so be it. Time will tell," he said. Source: CNN Indonesia