Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) welcomed President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who showed interest in politics, to follow his father and his brother, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka's path.

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto stated here on Saturday that the party does not recognize the principle of family core members in different political parties.

"PDIP does not recognize nuclear family members (building career) in different political parties," he said. Hence, he believes it would be better if Pangarep were to join PDIP where Widodo and Raka are also cadres.

"Yes, if he wants to get into (a political career), (he should) go to the PDIP because we have a rule that core family members cannot be in different parties," he stated.

He viewed that the commitment of one family to enter politics through a single party is very important to build. "(It is) because it also shows an emotional bonding, awareness, and political education that starts with the family," he stated.

PDIP is very open to the idea of Pangarep joining, as the party uses an active stelsel (system) model that anyone interested can apply.

"Why is there an active stelsel? Because when they join the party, they must unite themselves and put forward the collective interests of the party," he explained.

To become a party cadre, he said, Pangarep does not have to meet PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and explained that anyone can apply by registering through the online system provided by the party.

Family members of PDIP cadres can also become cadres, but the party upholds the spirit of reformation that members from the same family cannot be assigned at the same structural level.

Earlier, on Tuesday (January 24), Mayor of Surakarta Gibran Rakabuming Raka brought attention to his younger brother Pangarep's interest in entering politics.

Raka revealed that Kaesang Pangarep had expressed that keenness to him and President Jokowi at their home in Surakarta.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1685239/pdi-p-welcomes-jokowis-son-kaesangs-interest-in-politic