Gerindra

The Great Indonesia Movement Party (), better known as the Gerindra Party, is a nationalist, right-wing populist political party in Indonesia. Since 2014, it has been the third-largest party in the House of Representatives (DPR), having won 86 seats in the latest election. It currently controls the presidency. Gerindra is led by the former army general and the current president, Prabowo Subianto. Gerindra is one of a relatively new party (found in 2008) that controls the government and presidency after the Democratic Party.

Founded in 2008, Gerindra serves as the political vehicle for Prabowo. The party first participated in the 2009 legislative election and secured 26 seats in the DPR. In the presidential election, Prabowo ran as the vice-presidential candidate for Megawati Soekarnoputri of PDI-P, but they were defeated by the incumbent president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Gerindra then became the opposition to the SBY administration. In 2014, Gerindra placed third in the legislative election, and Prabowo ran with Hatta Rajasa against Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the presidential election, but they lost. Gerindra once again became the opposition to the government. In the 2019 legislative election, Gerindra won the second-highest majority of votes. Prabowo ran with Sandiaga Uno against Jokowi and lost again. After Prabowo reconciled with Jokowi in July 2019, Gerindra joined the government coalition and he was later appointed the Minister of Defense. In 2024, Prabowo ran with Gibran Rakabuming Raka and won the presidential election in the first round.

History

After coming last in Golkar's presidential convention on 21 April 2004, Prabowo served as a member of Golkar's Advisory Board until his resignation on 12 July 2008. Gerindra was formed on 6 February 2008 at the suggestion of Prabowo's younger brother, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who helped pay for party's prime-time TV advertising campaign. Prabowo was appointed chairman of the party's Founding Board.

Gerindra's provincial level election teams were formed in February 2009. The party then claimed a membership of approximately 15 million, with its support base coming from across Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

The party won 4.5% of the vote in the 2009 legislative election, and was awarded 26 seats in the People's Representative Council.

The Reform Star Party (PBR) was merged into Gerindra in February 2011.

In the national legislative election on 9 April 2014, the party's vote share jumped to 11.8%, making it the third-most popular party in Indonesia. Gerindra almost trebled the number of seats it won from 26 seats in 2009 to 73 seats in 2014.

Following the death of Gerindra chairman Suhardi on 28 August 2014, Prabowo was appointed general chairman on 20 September 2014.

Political identities

Ideology

The 2008 Law on Political Parties states that political parties are allowed to include specific characteristics that reflect their political aspirations, as long as they do not contradict Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. As per Articles 5 and 7 of its constitution and bylaws (AD/ART), Gerindra is founded on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, while its identity is rooted in nationalism, populism, religion, and social justice. In February 2019, the party's central board member Andre Rosiade described Gerindra as a " nationalist-religious" party. Outsider views on the party's political orientation vary. Academics and domestic observers classified Gerindra as a nationalist party, while their international counterparts described it as a secular party with hard nationalist stance, ultranationalist,: "Prabowo's coalition consisted of his own ultra-nationalist Gerindra..." or "militant nationalist" party.: "Gerindra, Greater Indonesia Movement Party; a militant nationalist party formed in 2008." Tom Power disagrees with labeling Gerindra as a secular party and categorizes it as a " inclusivist-nationalist" party, due to its perceived willingness to compromise on Islamic political agendas. Its political leaning has been described as right-wing: "...while Anies is backed by the right-wing Gerindra Party of Prabowo Subianto..." or right-wing populist.: "Today, another highly spirited right-wing populist political party has emerged. Its name, Gerindra, ''Gerakan Indonesia Raya'', the Greater Indonesia Movement, signifies its fervour for revitalising the greatness of the nation.": "This is because Mr Prabowo, 71, chairman of right-wing populist Gerindra Party...": "...although thus far without producing programmatic platforms beyond the vague right wing populism of the PDI-P (of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri) or of Gerindra (of retired Lieutenant-General Prabowo Subianto).": "Subianto, a former general of the army and former son-in-law of Suharto, left his Golkar Party to form the Gerindra, a right-wing populist party."

Political positions

In its political manifesto, Gerindra has taken positions on several issues. On politics, Gerindra seeks to overhaul Indonesia's political system, rejecting liberal democracy as counterproductive. It advocates a culturally aligned democracy, emphasizing robust national leadership based on Pancasila and the constitution. In the economic field, Gerindra advocates economic populism, criticizing Indonesia's liberal economy. It seeks increased state involvement, rejects rising foreign debt, opposes the privatization of state-owned enterprises (BUMN), calls for the reevaluation of laws favoring foreign entities (such as the Oil and Gas Law and the Investment Law), and favors reintroducing the New Order era Broad Outlines of State Policy (GBHN). Gerindra generally rejects economic liberalisation and supports protectionist measures, while supporting some deregulation to support entrepreneurship, particularly for small and medium enterprises. Gerindra follows a populist and nationalist economic platform, targeting the lower middle class such as farmers and fishers, though its supporters in the 2014 general election were disproportionately urban dwellers.

In foreign policy, Prabowo has expressed a desire for closer diplomatic ties with China and India, while calling for distance from the West. He has proposed a peace plan to end the Russo-Ukrainian War, involving holding referendums in disputed areas between the two countries, which was subsequently condemned by Ukraine. In January 2022, Prabowo expressed openness to the normalization of Indonesia–Israel relations.

The Gerindra parliamentary group in the DPR have expressed their opinions on a few issues:

Leadership structure

The following leadership structure of the party are as follows (2020-2025)

Leader of the Advisory Council: General (Hon.) H. Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo

Deputy Leader of the Advisory Council

* Hashim Djojohadikusumo
* Ahmad Muzani
* Sufmi Dasco Ahmad
* Fadli Zon
* Thomas Aquinas Djiwandono
* Angky Retno Yudianto
* Dedi Mulyadi
* Mochamad Iriawan
* Titiek Soeharto

Secretary of the Advisory Council: Sugiono

Vice Secretary of the Advisory Council: Prasetyo Hadi

General Chairman: General (Hon.) H. Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo

Vice Chairman

* Deputy General Chairperson for Organization, Cadre Generation, Membership and Election Victory: Sufmi Dasco Ahmad
* Deputy General Chair for Foreign Affairs: Fadli Zon
* Deputy General Chair for Ideology, Politics, Government, Party Discipline and Strategic Information: Sugiono
* Deputy General Chairperson for Economic and Environmental Affairs: Budi Djiwandono
* Deputy Chairman of the General Chair for Defense and Security: Major General TNI (Ret.) Musa Bangun
* Deputy Chairperson General Chairperson for Network Potential Empowerment, Cooperatives and MSMEs: Ferry Joko Yuliantono
* Deputy Chairperson for Health and Employment Affairs: Drg. Putih Sari
* Deputy Chairperson of the General Chair for Youth, Women and Children: Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo
* Deputy Chairperson for Legal and Advocacy: Habiburokhman
* Deputy Chairperson for Community Service and People's Welfare: Sumaryati Amin Aryoso
* Deputy Chairperson for Education and Infrastructure: Susi Marleny Bachsin
* Deputy Chairman of the General Chair for Religious Affairs: Mochamad Irfan Yusuf

Secretary General: Ahmad Muzani

Treasurer: Thomas Aquinas Djiwandono

Wing organizations

Gerindra's wing organizations include:
* TIDAR (''Tunas Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Bud)
* PIRA (''Perempuan Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Woman)
* GEMIRA (''Gerakan Muslim Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Muslim Movement)
* GEKIRA (''Gerakan Kristiani Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Christian Movement); formerly named KIRA (''Kristen Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Christians).
* GEMA SADHANA (''Gerakan Masyarakat Sanathana Dharma Nusantara'', Sanathana Dharma Nusantara Society Movement); for Hindus and Buddhists.
* PETIR (''Persatuan Tionghoa Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Chinese Association)
* SATRIA (''Satuan Relawan Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Volunteer Unit)
* SEGARA (''Sentral Gerakan Buruh Indonesia Raya,'' Great Indonesia Labor Movement Center; for labour movements)
* KESIRA (''Kesehatan Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia Health; for health workers)
* BGM (''Barisan Garuda Muda'', Young Garuda Front)
* GMI (''Garuda Muda Indonesia'', Indonesia Young Garudas)
* Jari Raya (''Jaringan Rakyat Indonesia Raya'', Great Indonesia People's Network)

Election results

Legislative election results

Presidential election results

''Note: Bold text indicates the party member''

References

Sources

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Notes

External links

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{{Indonesian political parties

2008 establishments in Indonesia
Anti-communist parties
Conservative parties in Indonesia
Nationalist parties in Asia
Pancasila political parties
Political parties established in 2008
Political parties in Indonesia
Far-right political parties in Indonesia
Right-wing populism in Indonesia
Right-wing populist parties
National conservative parties