According to the Carnegie Endowment, the PPP is a conservative Islamic party with a broad base, combining Islamic values with socio-economic development. 

The PPP says on its official website that the vision and objectives of the party are to represent the aspirations of the Indonesian Muslim community while remaining aligned with nationalist principles.

The PPP was founded on Jan. 5, 1973, as a result of the fusion or merger of four Islamic-based parties: Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesian Muslim Party (Parmusi), Indonesia Islamic Syariah Party (PSII), and the Union of Islamic Education Party (Perti). 

Prominent figures leading this initiative included NU chairman KH Idham Chalid, Parmusi chairman Mohammad Syafaat Mintaredja, PSII chairman Anwar Tjokroaminoto, Perti chairman Rusli Halil and Unity for Development Group chairman Mayskur. 

With the merger of these major Islamic-based parties, the PPP proclaimed itself as the "Great House of the Islamic Community."

Shift from Islamic principles to Pancasila 

Initially, the PPP adhered to Islamic principles with the symbol of the Kaaba. 

However, in 1984, the PPP shifted its foundation to Pancasila, in accordance with the prevailing laws and political system, due to political pressures during the New Order regime. 

The PPP officially adopted the Pancasila principle with a five-pointed star emblem at its first congress in 1984. 

Leadership succession 

The PPP's first chairman, Mohammad Syafaat Mintaredja, served from its inception on Jan. 5, 1973, until 1978. 

Subsequent chairmen included Djaelani Naro, Ismail Hasan Metareum, Hamzah Haz, Suryadharma Ali, Muhammad “Romy” Romahurmuziy, Suharso Monoarfa and finally the current acting chairman, since the ninth congress held in Makassar on Sept. 5, 2022, is Muhamad Mardiono. 

Internal conflicts 

Rifts among the top leadership have been a major part of the PPP’s history and probably one of the main reasons why the party has continued to lose popularity, especially after the downfall of the New Order regime.

Some of the most prominent internal rifts are:

• Conflict between Djaelani Naro and the NU faction within the PPP: In 1979, PPP politician Djaelani Naro declared himself chairman with the support of the New Order government. Naro, formerly a prosecutor and a member of Parmusi, led the PPP after the merger of Parmusi into the PPP. However, this led to a rift between Naro and the NU faction within the PPP, reaching its peak in 1982. Eventually, NU withdrew from political involvement within the PPP in 1984. This decision had a significant impact on the PPP's performance in the 1988 elections. 

• Three-way conflict between Suryadharma Ali-Romahurmuziy-Djan Faridz: This conflict took place during the leadership of Suryadharma Ali and it began in 2014, stemming from disagreements over the PPP's presidential candidate choice. Suryadharma's sudden support for Prabowo Subianto during the 2014 presidential campaign caused a split within the PPP, with two factions emerging. Suryadharma was later embroiled in a corruption case, leading to his removal from office.

• Removal of Suharso Monoarfa: After years of dual leadership, PPP faced internal turmoil again in 2022. The party's advisory council decided to remove Suharso Monoarfa from the chairman’s position. This decision followed a period of public scrutiny and unrest related to Suharso Monoarfa's leadership. A special committee within the party concluded that Suharso should be removed from the position, and this decision was supported during the party’s national congress held in Banten. 

Voted for:

• Omnibus Job Creation Law 

• New and Renewable Energies Law

• Criminal Code (KUHP) revision

• Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law revision

• Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law revision

• Sexual Violence Eradication Law

• Indigenous Peoples Law

Voted against:

None

Convicted high-profile members: 

Muhammad “Romy” Romahurmuziy

Romy is a former party chairman and secretary-general. A graduate of the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Romy was once a promising young politician with a good reputation until he found himself entangled in a bribery scandal. 

In January 2020, a three-judge panel at the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Romy to two years’ imprisonment for accepting bribes in relation to promotions within the Religious Affairs Ministry. Just three months later, however, Romy walked free after the Jakarta High Court ruled in favor of his appeal for a sentence reduction.

Despite the scandal, the PPP still accepted Romy back into the party leadership and appointed him as the party’s advisory board chief.

Suryadharma Ali 

Suryadharma was also once a PPP chairman. 

In 2016, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Surydharma to six years behind bars after he was convicted of embezzling the country's haj funds between 2010 and 2013, causing billions of rupiah in state losses, in his capacity as the then religious affairs minister.

United Development Party (PPP) members’ corruption tally: ^*

Rp 21.8 billion ($1.37 million)

Total amount of bribes received or taken

Rp 99.9 billion

Total state losses

^* Information courtesy of BijakMemilih.id