PKS Targets Doubling Young Legislators in Indonesia's Parliament by 2029

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has officially launched the Young Path to Parliament programme, initiated by the party’s Youth, Student, and Pupil Division (BPPM). PKS Secretary-General Muhammad Kholid stated that the programme is designed as a cadre-building platform to prepare young legislative candidates ready to contest and contribute at the national, regional, and local levels ahead of the 2029 elections. In his remarks, Kholid emphasised that the programme is a continuation of previous efforts and has been strengthened as part of the party’s leadership regeneration strategy. ‘This Young Path to Parliament programme serves as a medium, a vehicle to prepare young legislative candidates at the central, regional, and local levels—young people with idealism, optimism, and most importantly, the courage to contest and contribute in politics,’ Kholid said in an official statement on Monday. He explained that the programme is crucial for preparing the party’s leadership regeneration to remain relevant given the dominance of young voters in the 2029 elections. Kholid also highlighted the party’s achievement in increasing youth representation in the House of Representatives (DPR RI) for the 2024-2029 period, noting that PKS now has seven members under 40, whereas previously there were none. ‘Our target is to at least double that number in the DPR RI, not just seven but more,’ he asserted. According to Kholid, the programme also aims to dispel the stigma that young people lack the capability to win political contests or serve as quality legislators once elected. He expressed hope that the initiative would produce more young PKS leaders who are not only electable but also trustworthy in carrying out their duties as people’s representatives.