Talk of Merger Between Gerindra and NasDem Parties Reportedly Discussed by Prabowo and Surya Paloh

President Prabowo Subianto, as Chairman of the Gerindra Party, reportedly met in a closed-door meeting with NasDem Party Chairman Surya Paloh at Prabowo's residence in Bogor in mid-February 2026. The meeting discussed the idea of a merger or acquisition of the NasDem party by Gerindra, although technical details like the mechanism or the name of the merged party have not been discussed. This issue emerges amid internal dynamics within the NasDem Party, including several members defecting to the Indonesian Solidarity Party and business challenges faced by Surya Paloh. Besides Gerindra, reports also mention other parties, like Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and former President Joko Widodo, showing interest in acquiring NasDem as a political vehicle ahead of the 2029 presidential election. Political observers see this talk as a move by President Prabowo to consolidate power, aiming to strengthen his party's seat base in the House of Representatives (DPR) and reduce friction within the government coalition. However, there's speculation about the leadership of the resulting merged party, with names like Sugeng Suparwoto being cited as strong candidates. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/04/12/geger-isu-akuisisi-partai-surya-paloh-oleh-prabowo-gerindra-dan-nasdem-bakalan-merger/