Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo confirmed on Thursday that the National Democratic Party, or Nasdem, is no longer part of the pro-government coalition which now comprises six political parties.

His remarks about Nasdem’s status in the coalition are the first time since the party formally announced former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate last October.

"Nasdem, let’s say what it is, has belonged to its own coalition," the president told reporters during a visit to Sarinah shopping mall in Central Jakarta. He was responding to a question about why Nasdem was not invited to his meeting with the leaders of pro-government parties at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday evening.

Nasdem Chairman Surya Paloh, a media mogul who owns a television network and other publications, was also a notable absentee when Jokowi met with party leaders last month.

Jokowi said Tuesday’s meeting was meant to strengthen “political cooperation” in the government coalition and Nasdem, now an outsider, has no right to know firsthand about the coalition’s strategy.

"The gathering by those parties sought to establish sound political cooperation and common ground on our grand strategy,” he said.

The president also responded to critics who accused him of violating his duty as the head of state by meddling in political affairs that should be in the domain of political parties.

"I’m both a public official and a political figure. That means I’m allowed to talk about politics, aren’t I? I can talk about that matter because it’s also part of the president’s job,” he said.

The president was present when the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) announced Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election in Bogor on April 21.

He has no secret of his support for the fellow PDI-P man as a potential successor.

Nasdem’s departure leaves six parties in the government coalition namely the PDI-P, the PAN, Golkar Party, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the United Development Party (PPP), and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

They have indicated a plan to establish the so-called grand coalition for the presidential election but such an idea could end prematurely as several party leaders have a good chance to become contenders themselves.

A partnership between Gerindra and the PKB is enough to nominate Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto for president. 

Golkar’s Airlangga Hartarto also needs support from one more party to join the presidential race and he has met with several party leaders including Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party, widely considered as an opposition of the Jokowi government.

Of the pro-government parties, only the PPP has formally thrown its weight behind Ganjar’s nomination.