Jakarta. Speculation over a potential merger between two of Indonesia’s major political parties has surfaced, though officials say the idea remains largely theoretical and faces significant hurdles.

A senior figure from the National Democrat (Nasdem) Party said discussions about a possible “fusion” with the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party should be seen as a normal part of political discourse, rather than an imminent plan.

“In political terms, it is called a fusion, not a merger or acquisition,” Nasdem deputy chairman Saan Mustopa told reporters at the parliamentary complex on Monday.

The two parties are led by prominent figures in Indonesian politics. Gerindra is chaired by President Prabowo Subianto, while Nasdem is led by media mogul Surya Paloh.

The idea of a merger carries added political weight given their recent electoral rivalry. In the 2024 presidential race, Nasdem nominated former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan as its candidate. Anies was widely seen as a strong challenger to Prabowo, who ran alongside Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of former president Joko Widodo.

The notion of party fusion, where two or more parties combine into a new entity, has historical precedent in Indonesia, most notably during the 1973 consolidation of political parties under the New Order regime. However, Saan cautioned that replicating such a move in today’s democratic environment would be far more complex.

As an idea, he said, it is legitimate to consider. But translating it into reality would require alignment on fundamental issues, including ideology, political vision, and long-term goals.

“Political parties are a reflection of ideals, ideas, aspirations, and even the ideology of their founders,” Saan said. “These are not easy to fuse, especially in today’s context where our democracy continues to evolve.”

He added that there have been no serious internal discussions within Nasdem regarding a merger with Gerindra.

The speculation comes against the backdrop of Indonesia’s fragmented but competitive party landscape. Based on official results from the 2024 general election, Gerindra ranked third with 13.22% of the vote, while Nasdem placed fifth with 9.66%. The largest share was secured by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) with 16.72%, followed by Golkar with 15.28%.

A merger between Gerindra and Nasdem, if it were to materialize, would significantly reshape the political balance, potentially creating a stronger bloc capable of competing with established parties ahead of future elections.