The Birth of Gerindra

AT an Indonesian Farmers Association meeting in South Jakarta, Suhardi handed Prabowo Subianto a bundle of documents. It was 2006, and Suhardi, an expert staff from the National Food Security Council, wanted Prabowo to run for president. The documents contained the draft charter, budget plan, symbol and name of the new political party he proposed Prabowo form to do so: the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party.

That day at the meeting, Prabowo didn't even glance at Suhardi's papers, and nearly two years later, he still had yet to respond. Prabowo, then a member of the Golkar Party's advisory board, did not agree with Suhardi's concept, thinking it too focused on the agricultural sector. Previously, Suhardi had only ever set out to become deputy chairman of the Farmers and Fishermen's Prosperity Party.

July 1, 2014