Jakarta. Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairman Prabowo Subianto demonstrated yet again that he is the central figure in the current movement to build the so-called grand coalition for the 2024 presidential election, as he received a visit from National Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Zulkilfi Hasan on Saturday.

Zulkifli is the third party leader to arrive at Prabowo’s residence in South Jakarta in the last four days to discuss the new coalition, which is expected to comprise at least five incumbent parties.

“A big country like [Indonesia] cannot be governed by just one or two parties, but it needs a big team that we call the national coalition to manage. It requires unity to move this nation forward,” Zulkifli told reporters after the closed-door meeting.

The PAN is ready to contribute to the new coalition together with other pro-government parties including Gerindra, the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the United Development Party (PPP), he said.

“I’m personally ready to do anything to make the coalition happen,” Zulkifli said. But he quickly added that the movement should be guided by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

On the same occasion, Prabowo said he and Zulkifli exchanged views on “the best formation” for the country and ways to ensure successful elections next year.

Earlier on Wednesday, he received a visit from United Indonesia Party (Perindo) Chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo and offered his guest to join the grand coalition.

"We are open and very pleased if Perindo and maybe other parties want, let’s say, a big and solid formation to ensure the continuity of development and safeguard order and harmony,” Prabowo said.

Hary, whose party is still struggling to win its first House of Representatives seat, called the grand coalition a “good idea”.

On Friday, Crescent Star Party (PBB) Chairman Tusril Ihza Mahendra also became a guest at Prabowo’s residence, where he said the grand coalition suits “Indonesia’s democracy that promotes brotherhood, cooperation, and collaboration” while making the distance to a “frontal opposition”. 

“There is no democracy without criticisms and differences, but we can’t afford conflicts and divisions,” Yusril said.

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