Anies Speaks After Breaking Fast with Political Party Elites
Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan broke fast together with a number of political party elites at an event held at the NasDem party’s central executive board office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, 19 February 2026. During the occasion, Anies was seen conversing at the same table as NasDem chairman Surya Paloh, Gerindra party daily chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, PDIP central executive board chairwoman Puan Maharani, and several other politicians.
According to Tempo’s observations, throughout the opening of the event, Anies was initially seated separately from Surya Paloh and other senior party figures in attendance. Anies sat at a different round table alongside Prananda Paloh. Meanwhile, Surya Paloh’s table was occupied by Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) president Almuzzammil Yusuf, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Saan Mustopa, and former vice-president Jusuf Kalla, who arrived later.
After the formal proceedings concluded, Anies was seen sitting in a circle with several party leaders, including Surya Paloh, Dasco, Puan Maharani, and Jusuf Kalla.
Anies said he was pleased to be reunited with figures from parties that had previously supported him in the 2024 general election. However, he declined to comment at length on the substance of their discussions.
“NasDem’s headquarters is a place for fellowship and breaking fast together. As was conveyed earlier, this is an opportunity to strengthen bonds, break fast together, and receive blessed prayers,” said Anies with a smile, when met by the media after the event.
In the 2024 presidential contest, NasDem was the first party to nominate Anies as a presidential candidate. The party led by Surya Paloh subsequently formed a coalition with PKB, PKS, and PPP to field the Anies Baswedan–Muhaimin Iskandar ticket against two other candidates — Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka, backed by the Advanced Indonesia Coalition, and Ganjar Pranowo–Mahfud Md, supported by PDIP.
However, after the ticket it had nominated was defeated, NasDem decided to change course and align itself with the supporters of the elected president and vice-president, Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Most recently, on Monday 9 February 2026, NasDem deputy chairman Saan Mustopa signalled positive support for President Prabowo Subianto’s desire to serve two terms. He expressed confidence that all parties were delighted with the results of the first year’s performance.
As such, the prospect of two terms was deemed entirely reasonable. “That naturally makes everyone happy given the existing challenges. So with those considerations, the idea of two terms makes sense,” said Saan at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Monday, 9 February 2026.