PBNU Chair Ulil Declines Comment on Religious Affairs Minister's Candidacy, Notes Two-Term Tradition

The Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Ulil Abshar Abdalla, known as Gus Ulil, has assessed that the intensifying discussion regarding candidates for PBNU Chairman is a common dynamic ahead of Nahdlatul Ulama’s 35th Congress. However, he admitted he has no specific comment regarding the emergence of Religious Affairs Minister Prof Nasaruddin Umar, who has been mentioned as a suitable candidate for the PBNU Chairmanship. “One of the discussions currently lively within the NU community is about candidates. There are several candidates being proposed now. That is a normal dynamic ahead of the Congress, as this is the final National Conference and Grand Consultation before the congress in August,” Gus Ulil said while attending the 2nd anniversary of the Nusantara Mining Citizens Association in Jakarta, Wednesday (17/6/2026). Responding to the emergence of Prof Nasaruddin Umar’s name, which was previously revealed by PBNU Secretary and Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, Gus Ulil stated he had no particular response. “I have no special comment regarding the Minister of Religious Affairs, but candidates are now starting to emerge,” he asserted. According to Gus Ulil, there are currently around two to three names circulating as candidates for PBNU Chairman. He stressed that the final decision rests with the congress participants, namely the branch and regional administrators. “There are about two or three names circulating now. We will leave it to the congress participants, the branch and regional administrators, to decide which successor or candidate they consider suitable,” he said.