[2][3] In practice, the National Front functioned as an instrument to implement Sukarno's ideas of Guided Democracy and rallied the population around national causes such as the "return of West Irian (now Papua) to the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

[3] After West Irian was successfully integrated into Indonesia in 1963, the National Front's focus shifted to aligning the population with Sukarno's broader geopolitical and ideological goals.

The Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and the military competed for influence within the organization.

[4] Over time, the PKI asserted control and dominated the National Front, exploiting its platform to strengthen its own political influence.

[6][1] It was succeeded by the Pancasila Front, which was actively backed by the military, and helped in eradicating remnants of the PKI across Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia.