The Coalition of Change for Unity (Indonesian: Koalisi Perubahan untuk Persatuan, KPP), also known as the Coalition of Change (Indonesian: Koalisi Perubahan, KP) or the Blue Sapphire Coalition (Indonesian: Koalisi Biru Safir, KBS), and formerly the Red Ant Coalition (Indonesian: Koalisi Semut MerahKSM) was a political alliance in Indonesia, formed through an agreement between three political parties: NasDem Party, PKS, and Democratic Party, in preparation for the 2024 Indonesian presidential election.[2]
On 3 October 2022, NasDem Party leader Surya Paloh officially declared Anies Baswedan as their presidential candidate for the 2024 Indonesian presidential election.[3] As of December 2022, Coalition of Change has not yet officially been formed from the three political parties, despite confirmations it was in the works, with current plans for formation set for January 2023.[4] On 24 March 2023, the coalition formally chartered by the three parties.[5]
In September 2023, the Democratic Party left the coalition after Anies chose Muhaimin Iskandar, PKB's chairman, as his running mate, and PKB subsequently joined the coalition.[6]
Earlier, during PKS's 2022 National Leadership Meeting, the party initiated the idea of a "Change Coalition," advocating for a more just, prosperous, democratic, united, and sovereign Indonesia with a strategic global role.[7][8]
On June 2022, PKS and the National Awakening Party (PKB) formed the Red Ant Coalition as an exploratory initiative for a new political axis.[9] Both parties opened the possibility for others to join.[10] However, political dynamics shifted when PKB joined Gerindra to sign the Sentul Charter and formed a joint secretariat backing Prabowo Subianto in August 2022.[11]
In early 2023, the Democratic Party officially nominated Anies as its presidential candidate.[12][13] The party also proposed its chairman, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, as Anies' running mate.[14] PKS also proposed Ahmad Heryawan but signaled openness to AHY.[15]
Speculation arose that if AHY wasn't chosen, the coalition might collapse.[16] PKS officially endorsed Anies in February 2023.[17] Later, the Democratic Party also declared its support,[18] allowing Anies to meet the presidential threshold.[19] The three parties agreed Anies would choose his running mate.[20] According to Democratic Secretary-General Teuku Riefky Harsya, all three party chairs would soon sign a cooperation agreement.[21]Ummah Party, founded by Amien Rais, also supported Anies, but would back Prabowo if Anies failed to run.[22]
After the formation of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition in late August 2023, PKB withdrew and partnered with NasDem.[citation needed] Anies and Muhaimin Iskandar were officially declared as presidential and vice-presidential candidates in Surabaya on 2 September 2023.[23] Anies became the first candidate to announce his running mate. The Democratic Party rejected this move, claiming Anies had previously promised to choose AHY.[24] In protest, Democratic cadres removed joint Anies–AHY billboards across regions.[25] Ultimately, the Democratic Party withdrew support and joined the Advanced Indonesia Coalition backing Prabowo.[26]
30 January 2023 – Mohamad Sohibul Iman, Deputy Chairman of PKS’s Syura Council, declared the party’s official support for Anies, following consultations with the party's chairman and council leader.[28]
1 September 2023 – Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, Secretary of the Democratic Party's High Council, announced the party's withdrawal from the coalition and its retraction of support for Anies.[30][26]
After it failed to win the 2024 presidential election, and with PKB and Nasdem joining Prabowo's coalition on 24[38][39] and 25[40] April 2024, respectively, the coalition disbanded on 26 April 2024.[41] On 30 April, Anies and Muhaimin formally dissolved the national teams and the coalition publicly.[42]
Former presidential candidate Anies has not taken a position whether or not he would join Prabowo's government, since he is not from a political party with a standardized stance.[43]
