Golkar Confirms Party Chairman to Run as Legislative Candidate for 2029
Golkar Party Secretary General Muhammad Sarmuji has stated that Golkar Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia has long expressed his desire to stand as a candidate for the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in the 2029 general election. "It's not sudden. Bahlil has spoken about this for quite some time," Sarmuji said on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Sarmuji noted that Bahlil had previously conveyed his intention to run as a DPR RI candidate on 8 May 2025 whilst attending an event in Papua. "He may have even expressed the same thing before that," he said.
Previously, Bahlil Lahadalia firmly announced that he would be a legislative candidate in the 2029 legislative elections. He said he had no desire to entertain other ambitions like other party chairmen. "Hey journalists, don't ask me what else I want — I'm a legislative candidate. I don't want to think like other party chairmen about becoming this or that. No. I'm a legislative candidate," Bahlil said during his speech at the inauguration of the Golkar Party Academy at the Golkar Party Central Executive Board office in Jakarta on Friday evening, 13 February 2026, as quoted from Antara.
Bahlil said he would stand as a candidate from the Papua electoral district, as Golkar currently holds no DPR seats from that constituency. He further stated that a "fighter" must enter the contest on the ground.
Bahlil added that he would require all Golkar Party cadres to become legislative candidates in the future, including those currently holding executive positions as ministers. According to him, this is necessary to strengthen the party.
"They don't want to be legislative candidates but want to be ministers. How does that work? It can't — they have to do the work. There are no free allocations," said the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Bahlil said Golkar has a straightforward target for the 2029 political year: to increase its seats in the DPR RI. He believes a successful party chairman is one who is able to add seats in the DPR.
Last year, Bahlil also announced his intention to run as a legislative candidate from Papua in the 2029 legislative elections. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources wants Golkar's seats to increase in 2029, particularly in the Papua region. "I have already stated that in 2029, I will become a DPR RI member from the Papua Electoral District," Bahlil said whilst delivering remarks at the opening of the Third National Leadership Conference (Muspinas) of Kosgoro 1957 at Hotel Sultan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
The former investment minister urged all Golkar cadres to focus on increasing seat gains in the 2029 general election. In the 2024 legislative elections, Golkar finished in second place with 102 seats — just eight behind PDI-P, which secured 110 seats.
Sarmuji noted that Bahlil had previously conveyed his intention to run as a DPR RI candidate on 8 May 2025 whilst attending an event in Papua. "He may have even expressed the same thing before that," he said.
Previously, Bahlil Lahadalia firmly announced that he would be a legislative candidate in the 2029 legislative elections. He said he had no desire to entertain other ambitions like other party chairmen. "Hey journalists, don't ask me what else I want — I'm a legislative candidate. I don't want to think like other party chairmen about becoming this or that. No. I'm a legislative candidate," Bahlil said during his speech at the inauguration of the Golkar Party Academy at the Golkar Party Central Executive Board office in Jakarta on Friday evening, 13 February 2026, as quoted from Antara.
Bahlil said he would stand as a candidate from the Papua electoral district, as Golkar currently holds no DPR seats from that constituency. He further stated that a "fighter" must enter the contest on the ground.
Bahlil added that he would require all Golkar Party cadres to become legislative candidates in the future, including those currently holding executive positions as ministers. According to him, this is necessary to strengthen the party.
"They don't want to be legislative candidates but want to be ministers. How does that work? It can't — they have to do the work. There are no free allocations," said the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Bahlil said Golkar has a straightforward target for the 2029 political year: to increase its seats in the DPR RI. He believes a successful party chairman is one who is able to add seats in the DPR.
Last year, Bahlil also announced his intention to run as a legislative candidate from Papua in the 2029 legislative elections. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources wants Golkar's seats to increase in 2029, particularly in the Papua region. "I have already stated that in 2029, I will become a DPR RI member from the Papua Electoral District," Bahlil said whilst delivering remarks at the opening of the Third National Leadership Conference (Muspinas) of Kosgoro 1957 at Hotel Sultan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
The former investment minister urged all Golkar cadres to focus on increasing seat gains in the 2029 general election. In the 2024 legislative elections, Golkar finished in second place with 102 seats — just eight behind PDI-P, which secured 110 seats.