NasDem executive Willy Aditya clarified that party chairman Surya Paloh proposed a political bloc to Gerindra, not a merger or fusion. The statement responds to circulating rumors of a party merger. He described the bloc as political engineering to counter transactional party relations.
Jakarta – Willy Aditya, a NasDem executive, stated that Surya Paloh offered a "political bloc" concept to Gerindra party. He made the remarks when met at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 14, 2025.
"What Surya Paloh offered is a political bloc. Political bloc, not merger," Willy said. He emphasized that the idea is part of political engineering to build a solid bloc from top to bottom, countering transactional party ties.
Willy regretted the merger narrative used by others. Past party fusions, like Islamic parties forming PPP and nationalists forming PDI, were driven by state power, he noted. "They should recognize that Pak Surya thinks out of the box," he said.
He cited Golkar as a historical political bloc, along with the Front Nasional or Sekber Golkar in earlier eras. In Indonesia's presidential system, Willy explained, coalitions are known mainly during candidacy, not in government.
