Jakarta. The National Democratic (Nasdem) Party has decided to not propose some of its members as President-Elect Prabowo Subianto’s ministers, although the party said they would fully support the future government.

Nasdem’s Secretary-General Hermawi Taslim claimed that Prabowo had asked the party to propose some potential ministerial candidates. Even so, Nasdem’s chairman Surya Paloh had chosen not to be part of Prabowo’s cabinet. 

“Mr. Prabowo once asked why hasn’t Nasdem proposed some candidates. Well, we decided to make a more meaningful contribution other than having someone [from our party] in the cabinet,” Hermawi said in Jakarta over the weekend. 

“We believe that our thoughts and contribution will be far more meaningful if accepted and implemented rather than simply being part of the cabinet. But we will remain inseparable from this [incoming] government,” Hermawi said. 

 Hermawi added: “Just like what our chairman had said in his past meetings with Mr. Prabowo, we will fully support the government. Our interest is to have a successful government.”

Surya Paloh said earlier that Nasdem had tried to convince Prabowo not to include the party in his cabinet makeup. Surya admitted that other parties were more deserving of the ministerial post. Nasdem had backed Prabowo’s rival Anies Baswedan during the presidential election. 

“It would be such an honor to help the president whatever the ministerial post, but it is not less honorable to give the chance to our brothers from other political parties,” Surya Paloh said.