PDIP Expelled Cadre Reveals Jokowi's Response on Megawati

Achmad Hidayat, the former Deputy Secretary of the PDIP Surabaya City Branch, who was recently expelled from the party, has broken his silence regarding the reasons behind his dismissal. The expulsion appears to be linked to his visit to Solo and his subsequent suggestion to reinstate President Joko Widodo as a cadre of the 'Banteng' (Bull), PDIP's symbol. Achmad recounted that he was summoned by the party's Ethics Committee, chaired by Deputy Secretary-General Sadarestuwati, on August 26. This summons was a consequence of his visit to Solo approximately a month prior. During the hearing, Achmad said he was questioned about the purpose of his visit to Solo and the substance of their conversation. "Then, what did you talk about there?' Well, we didn't talk about anything, just shook hands and took a photo," Achmad quoted from the hearing proceedings on Monday (September 14). However, Achmad candidly admitted to the Ethics Committee that he had also inquired about the relationship between President Joko Widodo and the former party chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri. According to Achmad, President Joko Widodo stated that his relationship with Megawati was fine and expressed his belief that they would meet at some point. "Then I also asked, Mr. [Jokowi], what about the affairs of this nation? We must be united. Don't you have any desire to meet Mrs. Megawati? You often meet with Mr. Prabowo, don't you?" Achmad recalled asking President Joko Widodo. "'I have no problem with Mrs. Mega, and we will certainly meet someday,'" Achmad continued, mimicking Jokowi's response. Despite this, the PDIP Ethics Committee suspected other political motives behind the visit, including rumors of Achmad's potential move to the Solidarity Party of Indonesia (PSI). Achmad vehemently denied these allegations and strongly criticized the party's reaction, which he deemed excessive. He argued that currently, many PDIP cadres are secretly traveling to Solo, not just ordinary members, but also members of the House of Representatives, regents, mayors, and even central board officials. "Look, if I were still a PDIP cadre, there are many other PDIP cadres, holding positions as DPP, DPR RI, even Regents and Mayors, who go there [to Jokowi's residence], but they do it secretly," Achmad stated. "Why did I post it clearly? 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. Nevertheless, Achmad said he accepted the party's decision with grace. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity PDIP had given him to contribute to winning two terms of the Surabaya regional election for the Eri Cahyadi-Armuji pair, and for Tri Rismaharini's victory in the East Java gubernatorial election in the Surabaya region. Achmad also confirmed that he has not received any offers from PSI to date. "If the party's central board currently sees my actions as a burden to party affairs, not national affairs, then so be it. Time will tell," he remarked. Achmad's dismissal is formalized in the PDIP Central Executive Board's Decree Number 105/KPTS/DPP/IX/2026, signed directly by Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto in Jakarta on September 4, 2026. In the decree, the PDIP Central Executive Board detailed a series of alleged ethical and disciplinary violations that led to Achmad's expulsion from party membership. These included abuse of authority, soliciting and accepting money for unproven reasons, intimidating party officials, taking party documents without permission, and having previously been sanctioned with dismissal from his position for violating the party's AD/ART.