NasDem Protests Deemed Overdue by Tempo: Already Passed Journalistic Process
Cadres from the NasDem Party held a protest action in front of the Tempo building on Jalan Palmerah Barat, West Jakarta, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026. They were protesting the main report in the 12 April 2026 edition of Tempo magazine, titled “PT Nasdem Indonesia Raya Tbk”, with a cover featuring a caricature of the NasDem Party Chairman. The report revealed ideas for merging the NasDem Party with the Gerindra Party by Prabowo Subianto.
The cadres, predominantly wearing dark blue attributes, assessed the reporting as inaccurate and committed to upholding ethics and accuracy in journalistic products.
“Criticism is necessary, ethics is mandatory,” wrote one of the participants on their action attribute, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
The crowd came from various regional branches around Jakarta, one of which was from Serang Regency. The action organisers stated that the event was conducted peacefully, orderly, and with dignity. They said the presence of the crowd was not to pressure press freedom, but to remind of the importance of ethics in journalistic practice.
The action lasted for about two hours. Some of the crowd began dispersing from the location at 14:20 WIB. The situation around the Tempo office was observed to return to conducive after the crowd left the area.
Tempo’s Editor-in-Chief Setri Yasra said the editorial team appreciated the NasDem cadres’ step in conveying their aspirations directly. “Differences in perspective on reporting are a normal thing in democracy,” said Setri, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
In response to the substance of the demands from NasDem cadres, Setri emphasised that the main report published had gone through the journalistic process. “The reporting material published by Tempo is a journalistic work that has undergone verification processes, is accountable, and based on the Journalistic Code of Ethics,” she stated.
Tempo, she said, also opens space for clarification for parties who object to the content of the report. “Tempo has and will always provide space for the NasDem Party or any party to provide clarification on the findings in the main report,” said Setri.
She added that, in accordance with Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press, reporting disputes should be resolved through available mechanisms. “We encourage that every input on journalistic products can be resolved through the available mechanisms, namely through the Press Council,” she said.
Nevertheless, the editorial team expressed an apology for the impact caused by the main report’s cover. “Regarding the impact of the main report’s cover that offends the NasDem Party Chairman Surya Paloh and NasDem Party cadres, we apologise,” said Setri.