Gaspol Today: Vying for Prabowo's Support at the PBNU Congress
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Savic Ali, believes that the Presidential Palace will not interfere in the competition for the position of chairman of the PBNU at the upcoming 35th Congress.
Even so, he does not deny that the President of the Republic of Indonesia will always have an interest in the PBNU.
“I think in the context of the President (Prabowo), if he can connect with anyone, why would he get involved? Whoever becomes chairman of the PBNU can be invited to talk,” said Savic in the Gaspol! podcast which aired on Kompas.com’s YouTube channel, Saturday (16/5/2026).
“I think why would the Palace have an interest in supporting one candidate? Moreover, NU has a trauma with the involvement of the Palace in the congress, we know the story about the Cipasung Congress during President Suharto’s time, where Suharto was interested in preventing Gus Dur from being re-elected, meaning that many NU clerics have a trauma with this and could be resistant,” he explained.
On the other hand, Savic also heard rumours that a minister from the Red and White Cabinet would participate in the contest to become the leader of the PBNU.
Even so, Savic reminded that Nasaruddin must be prepared to relinquish his position as Minister of Religious Affairs if he is eventually elected to lead the largest Islamic organization in the republic.
“I heard that the Minister of Religious Affairs is also interested in becoming chairman of the PBNU. But again, if you want to become chairman of the PBNU, then resign as minister,” he said.
“I don’t know, but I’m not sure Cak Imin will run. I don’t know, unless there are parties who might want Cak Imin to no longer be chairman of PKB,” he added.
Watch the full conversation in the Gaspol podcast, airing tonight on Kompas.com’s YouTube channel at 8:00 PM WIB!
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