Willy's Joke Touches on NasDem-Gerindra Merger During DPR Meeting

Chairman of DPR Commission XIII from the NasDem Faction, Willy Aditya, made a joke about the merger of the NasDem Party with Gerindra during a working meeting he chaired on Monday, 13 April 2026. The meeting actually discussed the roadmap for fostering Pancasila ideology as presented by the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency or BPIP.

After BPIP Head Yudian Wahyudi finished explaining his presentation, Willy invited each faction to express their views. Willy then joked when offering speaking opportunities to NasDem Faction member Muslim Ayub and Gerindra Faction member Anwar Sadad.

“We’ll continue with Gerindra or NasDem first. Or do you want to merge NasDem with Gerindra?” said Willy, noticing Muslim Ayub sitting close to Anwar Sadad in the Commission XIII DPR room, Jakarta.

The NasDem Central Executive Board Chairman then continued, saying that the empty seat between them was like a connector for the merger of the two parties. “Yes, that empty seat is bridging, Sir,” he quipped.

Tempo magazine’s latest edition revealed that President Prabowo Subianto, also the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, proposed to the General Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, to combine the two parties. The idea emerged after they met at Prabowo’s residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, in mid-February 2026.

Willy’s joke continued when Muslim Ayub finished expressing his opinion in the meeting. Willy invited Anwar Sadad to directly continue in that session.

“Continue to the next one, responding from Gondangdia to Brawijaya. Eh, from Gondangdia to Kertanegara,” he said, correcting his statement.

Gondangdia Ward in Menteng, Central Jakarta, is the location of the NasDem DPP office. Meanwhile, Hambalang refers to Prabowo’s private residence.