Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The fast-growing mass-organization, the National Democrats (Nasdem), withdrew its plan to become a political party, as it was nearly out of time to fulfill the requirements set by the newly-amended Political Parties Law.

"It's impossible. This organization will never be a party... at least not by the 2014 elections," Nasdem Secretary General and former Communication and Information minister Syamsul Muarif said at a press conference at Nasdem headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.

Six months ahead the close of political parties registration and verification at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, he said Nasdem would not meet the criteria.

The 2010 Political Parties Law stipulates that a political party can run in elections if it has branch offices in all 33 provinces, 75 percent of the cities and regencies in each province and 50 percent of the districts in each city and regency. It also has to have 30 members in each province.

The organization claimed 31 provincial branch offices, about 300 regency and municipality offices from a total 524 regencies and cities nationwide and initiative groups at 1,000 out of about 5,900 districts.

Syamsul, currently a Golkar Party patron, said Nasdem would be inclined to join existing parties to take part in the 2014 general election. "We believe political parties will come to us," he said.

Syamsul said he had involved in talks with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to discuss on possible merge.

Nasdem was founded by Surya Paloh, a former Golkar Party patron and noted media mogul.

He recently hinted that Nasdem might soon become a political party. "If we have the potential to win the election, why not?" he said.

Syamsul said Surya's statement was not about the coming election. "In the future, perhaps the 2019 election, we might be a political party." Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi said Syamsul's statement was part of the organization's strategy to garner reactions in order to assure its readiness to compete in the 2014 election.

"They are still testing their political potential," Burhanuddin said.

He added that Nasdem would directly join another party instead of declaring its availability to coalesce if it was sure of its lack of political support. "There is still plenty of time before August."

Burhanuddin said the organization would likely merge with a medium-sized party, such as the People's Conscience (Hanura) Party, if it in fact finds itself too weak to compete alone. "I heard Surya has intensively talked with [Hanura chairman] Wiranto," he said.

Burhanuddin said the organization was unlikely to join a big party like the PDI-P, as the big parties would not give Nasdem significant control.

Surya established Nasdem shortly after he lost his bid for Golkar Party chairman to another tycoon, Aburizal Bakrie, in 2009.

Observers have seen Nasdem as Surya's new political vehicle should he leave Golkar, the country's second largest party after President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono's Democratic Party.

Since its establishment in February last year, Nasdem claims to have obtained more than 900,000 members nationwide. Many public figures and elites of different political parties have also joined the organization.

Surya has helped it become widely known by utilizing his media company, Metro TV news station. The TV station has broadcast live every Nasdem declaration ceremony.