Formed 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 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.[7] 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.[8]
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] 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.[14] In February 2019, the party's central board member Andre Rosiade described Gerindra as a "
nationalist-religious" party.[15] Outsider views on the party's political orientation vary. Academics and domestic observers classified Gerindra as a
nationalist party,[16] while their international counterparts described it as a
secular party with hard nationalist stance,[17]ultranationalist,[18] or "militant nationalist" party.[19] 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.[20] Its
political leaning has been described as
right-wing[6][21] or
right-wing populist.[2][22][3][4]
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.[23] In the economic field, Gerindra advocates economic populism, criticizing
post-Suharto 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 Broad Outlines of State Policy (GBHN). Gerindra rejects a
free-market system and supports
protectionist measures.[24] 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.[25]
In November 2019, Gerindra deputy chairman
Fadli Zon said the party firmly rejects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (
LGBT) people. Gerindra's Twitter account said the party supports early efforts to prevent LGBT in the community and schools, by involving religious leaders and health experts.[26]
Leadership structure
The following leadership structure of the party are as follows (2020-2025)[27]
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)
^
abSantoso 2009: "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."
^
abvan Klinken 2009, p. 157: "...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)."
^
abYilmaz & Shukri 2023, p. 143: "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."
^"PBR Gabung ke Gerindra" [PBR merged into Gerindra]. Detik (in Indonesian). February 18, 2011.
Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^Saifulloh 2016, pp. 178: "Akan tetapi, dalam Undang-Undang No.2 Tahun 2008 Tentang Partai Politik kembali dipertegas bahwa asas dan ciri partai politik merupakan penjabaran dari Pancasila dan UUD 1945." Translation: In Law No. 2 of 2008 on Political Parties, it is emphasized that the principles and characteristics of political parties derive from Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.
^Kuswandi 2019: "Kalau Gerindra ini partai nasionalis-religius..." Translation: Gerindra is a nationalist-religious party...
^Lee & Paath 2019: "So-called nationalist parties such as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Prabowo Subianto's political machine the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra)..."
^Bulkin 2013: "It is a secular party whose chief ideology appears to be fierce nationalism and defense of the unitary state."
^Heiduk 2014: "Prabowo's coalition consisted of his own ultra-nationalist Gerindra..."
^Bourchier 2015, p. 259: "Gerindra (Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya), Greater Indonesia Movement Party; a militant nationalist party formed in 2008."
^Power 2014: Gerindra is listed as "Inclusivist-Nationalist (Centrist)" in the table. "Coupled with Prabowo's willingness to adopt a more 'Islamic' tone in his campaign, it seems there is sufficient evidence to doubt Gerindra's commitment to a 'secular' agenda. For these reasons, Gerindra cannot be included in the 'secular-nationalist' camp."
^Meakem 2024: "Prabowo, who previously lost the presidency to Jokowi, belongs to the right-wing Gerindra Party and was a military officer under Suharto."
^Soeriaatmadja 2023: "This is because Mr Prabowo, 71, chairman of right-wing populist Gerindra Party..."