26-4-2024 (JAKARTA) Prabowo Subianto’s path to securing a majority in the new parliament received a significant boost on Thursday as NasDem, a prominent political party, announced its support for his administration. NasDem, which garnered 10% of the vote in February’s legislative election, expressed its readiness to extend “full support” to the upcoming administration during a meeting between its chief, Surya Paloh, and Prabowo.
While Paloh did not explicitly state whether NasDem would join the coalition, the party’s decision to back Prabowo marks a departure from its previous support for his rival, Anies Baswedan, the second-placed candidate and former Jakarta governor.
Prabowo, a seasoned political figure who secured victory in the election alongside the son of popular President Joko Widodo, has been actively engaging in discussions to forge a parliamentary coalition. Such a coalition would facilitate the smoother implementation of his economic programmes in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Emphasising the importance of unity among political elites, Defence Minister Prabowo called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward during a statement on Wednesday. Speaking alongside Surya, Prabowo reiterated their commitment to collaborate for the betterment of all Indonesians.
With his current alliance already accounting for 48% of parliamentary seats, NasDem’s support could potentially tip the balance in favour of a majority for Prabowo’s administration.
In recent days, Prabowo has also met with leaders of other parties that previously backed Anies, receiving assurances of cooperation with the incoming government. However, these parties have yet to confirm their participation in the coalition.
Prabowo’s Gerinda party has expressed intentions to hold discussions with political heavyweight Megawati Sukarnoputri, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the largest party in the new parliament. PDIP had endorsed a different presidential candidate in the election.
