Jakarta. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has given a mixed response to former member Bobby Nasution's recent decision to join the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). 

While acknowledging Bobby's constitutional right to affiliate with any party, PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto suggested that the move might be driven by a desire for power.

"Regarding his political choice, we believe that every citizen has the constitutional right to assemble and join any political party," Hasto said during a news conference at the PDI-P headquarters on Diponegoro Street, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Hasto elaborated, indicating that political shifts can be motivated by shared ideological platforms or simply by pragmatic interests in gaining political power. "People join political parties for idealism or the pragmatic interest of power. Either way, PDI-P respects his decision," he added.

Bobby, who is the son-in-law of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, is currently seeking the nomination for the North Sumatra gubernatorial election. 

He previously won the mayoral position in Medan with PDI-P's support around four years ago. However, their relationship has since soured as the president's family distanced themselves from the party prior to the February 14 presidential election.

Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also a PDI-P member, has joined forces with presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, the founder and chairman of Gerindra, as his running mate. This duo secured an outright win, defeating PDI-P’s nominee, Ganjar Pranowo.

On Monday, Bobby officially became a Gerindra member and is poised to secure the party’s nomination for the North Sumatra election.