Hamdan Zoelva Says PPP Must Remain in Existence, Urges Stronger Consolidation

Former Constitutional Court (MK) chief justice Hamdan Zoelva believes the existence of the United Development Party (PPP) is still necessary. He described PPP as a party inherited from Islamic scholars and a successor to Islamic parties that existed before Indonesia’s independence.

Zoelva made the remarks while attending the PPP National Coordination Meeting on Legal Affairs in Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (20/8/2026). He said PPP has a clear struggle for Islam and Indonesia.

“I feel PPP is important and must remain in existence. Because this is a party inherited from the ulama, an Islamic party that is indeed a continuation of Islamic parties since before independence. And this is embodied in PPP. So its Islamic struggle is clear, its nationalist struggle is clear,” Zoelva said.

Zoelva said PPP needs to strengthen consolidation after the party leadership dispute was resolved. He asked that legal issues not become a major burden for the party leadership.

“I think formally it is already clear. The current leadership is already clear. It just needs to continue carrying out consolidation. As for legal matters, they should be handled without becoming a major concern, leaving them to the legal team. So the chairman should just continue this consolidation because the biggest task is facing the upcoming election,” he said.

Zoelva also asked PPP to invite back those who had previously distanced themselves from the party. According to him, this is one of the heavy tasks PPP must undertake.

“The most important thing is indeed consolidation, inviting back those who may have previously drifted away from PPP to come closer to PPP again. This is heavy work, heavy work,” he said.

He said PPP still has about three years to consolidate before facing the next election.

“The foundation must be settled first. And this is certainly heavy work, this is only the most basic foundation. After that comes activation, activation of the movement that must be carried out. There is still three years, three more years for PPP,” he added.