Nasdem Denies Merger with Gerindra, Rejects Gibran Takeover Rumors

The NasDem Party has firmly refuted circulating rumors suggesting an impending merger with the Gerindra Party. Willy Aditya, a key figure within NasDem's DPP, clarified that the concept presented by party chairman Surya Paloh was not a merger or fusion, but rather a 'political bloc.' This distinction is crucial, as NasDem views this initiative as a strategic maneuver to reshape Indonesia's political landscape.

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Apa yang ditawarkan oleh seorang Surya Paloh adalah political bloc. Blok politik, bukan merger.

According to Willy Aditya, the proposed 'political bloc' is a form of political engineering designed to counteract the increasingly transactional nature of contemporary politics. He emphasized the need for a robust and unified political front, extending from the grassroots to the national level, asserting that the term 'merger' inaccurately represents Surya Paloh's vision. NasDem believes that such a bloc would foster deeper, more meaningful political alliances beyond mere electoral cooperation.

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Kan selama ini transaksional banget, ya. Nah, kita membutuhkan sebuah political bloc yang solid dari atas sampai ke bawah, begitu. Pemahamannya jangan merger, dong.

Aditya further elaborated on the historical context, noting that while Indonesia has seen party fusions in the past, these were often state-driven. He contrasted this with Surya Paloh's forward-thinking approach, which he described as 'out of the box.' The concept of a political bloc, he explained, is distinct from coalition politics, which typically dissolves after elections. Instead, it aims to create a more enduring and cohesive political entity, drawing parallels to historical formations like Golkar and the Nasakom front.

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Dia (pihak yang menggunakan narasi merger) harusnya menangkap Pak Surya itu orang yang berpikir out of the box (lain dari biasanya). Kan kita selama ini berpikir cuma sekretariat bersama, partai koalisi. Koalisi itu dalam proses kandidasi. Sementara di dalam government (pemerintahan), kita tidak mengenal koalisi.

Addressing recent meetings between Surya Paloh and Gerindra's Chairman Prabowo Subianto, Willy Aditya described them as natural interactions between long-time associates. He highlighted the depth of their discussions, suggesting a level of camaraderie and intellectual exchange that goes beyond typical political engagements. These meetings, he implied, are part of the ongoing dialogue surrounding the formation of such political alliances.

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Wajar saja dua sahabat bertemu. Ketika pertama kali Pak Prabowo datang ke Gondangdia (NasDem Tower), kami diskusi enam jam tentang banyak hal. Di mana ada hal yang lebih akrab, yang lebih intimate, untuk bisa berdialektika seperti itu? Seorang Surya Paloh dengan seorang Pak Prabowo waktu itu bisa berdiskusi secara equal (setara) tentang banyak hal.