Behind the Resignation of 3 PSI Founders and the Tug of War Between Solo and Hambalang

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The political dynamics surrounding President Prabowo Subianto's government are back in focus.

This comes after three prominent founders of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), Giring Ganesha, Raja Juli Antoni, and Isyana Bagoes Oka, decided to leave the party.

The trio has chosen to prioritize their responsibilities within Prabowo's administration.

However, this decision raises questions about PSI's position amidst the political dynamics between the Solo circle, associated with the 7th President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and the Hambalang circle, which is Prabowo's political base.

Moreover, the three are not ordinary party members.

They are part of the founding figures of PSI, who have been closely aligned with Jokowi.

Their resignations happening in quick succession ignites various interpretations regarding potential shifts in political orientation and influence within the power circle.

So, was the departure of these three PSI founders solely a personal decision to focus on government duties, or is there a larger political dynamic at play?

Leaving PSI to Secure Positions in Government?

The Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah, considers Giring, Raja Juli, and Isyana's decision to exit PSI as a personal choice that does not directly impact the public.

However, according to Dedi, the real issue lies with their positions in Prabowo's government.

He questions their contributions as government officials if their resignation from the party was meant to allow them to concentrate on their cabinet roles.

"Their decision to leave is personal and does not affect the public, but their presence in the cabinet is problematic; they should resign from their cabinet positions as well," Dedi told Kompas.com on Tuesday (11/10/2026).

Dedi believes this decision cannot be divorced from the political situation overshadowing PSI and Jokowi's political circle.

He references several issues that have recently garnered public attention, ranging from the controversy surrounding the education documents of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, allegations of tapping scandals, to the ongoing trials related to Jokowi's diploma.

According to Dedi, these matters pose potential political pressure for PSI members linked to Jokowi's circle.

"The forgery of Gibran's educational documents, the uncovering of tapping scandals, and the trials surrounding Jokowi's fake diploma present compelling reasons to fear as PSI members," he said.

Dedi even questions whether their decision is genuinely a personal initiative or part of a broader internal political strategy within PSI.

He suspects the resignation could be a maneuver designed to create a narrative that PSI members are distancing themselves from the party to maintain their government positions.

"Their resignation should also be viewed with skepticism as a maneuver and gimmick by the Solo group; it is not impossible that PSI itself requested the three or other members to resign and narrate it differently," Dedi explained.

He believes this dynamic illustrates underlying issues in the political relationship between Solo and Hambalang.

Indeed, according to Dedi, this situation may suggest a deterioration in relations between the two political circles.

"Certainly, this strengthens the suspicion that the relationship between Hambalang and Solo is coming to an end and even evolving into hostility," he stated.