Political Education as a Tool for National Consolidation to Strengthen Strategy
Democratic Party closes the National Political Education (Dikpolnas) 2026 at the SBY-Ani Museum and Gallery in Pacitan, East Java, on the evening of Wednesday, 20 May, after two days with 157 participants from 38 DPDs across Indonesia.
The closing of Dikpolnas was marked by briefing material from the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairman of the Democratic Party’s High Assembly Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
In his briefing, the former president shared views on national political challenges, leadership, ideology and the direction of the Democratic Party’s struggle towards the 2029 elections.
Andi Mallarangeng, Rector of the Democratic Party Institute (IPD), said Dikpolnas is an important part of preparing cadres who are adaptable, responsive, and capable of facing future national political dynamics.
According to Andi, political education is not only a learning space, but also a tool for national consolidation to strengthen strategy, organisational governance, and maintain public trust in the Democratic Party.
‘The Democratic Party must be able to present leadership that adapts to changing times, has modern and professional organisational governance, and continues to maintain and increase public trust,’ he said in a statement on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
The Dikpolnas theme this year was ‘Strengthening Adaptive Leadership of the Party to Build Strategy, Governance, and Public Trust Towards the 2029 Elections.’
At the opening, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party Herman Khaeron officially opened Dikpolnas. Also present were the Minister of Transmigration M Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, Deputy Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ossy Dermawan, member of the DPR RI from East Java VII Sartono Hutomo, the Deputy Governor of East Java and also Chairman of the East Java Democratic Party Emil Dardak, Pacitan Regent and Chairman of the Pacitan Democratic Party Indrata Nur Bayuaji, Pacitan DPRD Chairman Arif Setia Budi, and central DPP Democratic Party officials.
The Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono was unable to attend due to a mission to Singapore. However, AHY delivered a speech via video at the opening of Dikpolnas. Meanwhile, the Dikpolnas Committee Chairman 2026 Iwan Setiawan Arifin Manasa said Dikpolnas is not merely an ordinary training programme but a space to reinforce the party’s values and to shape the strategic direction towards the 2029 elections.
‘Dikpolnas is a space for consolidating ideas, a space for political learning, and at the same time a space to strengthen the values and direction of the Democratic Party’s struggle towards the 2029 elections,’ he said.
According to Iwan, during the event participants took part in various sessions featuring national figures, academics, and political practitioners. The materials included political communication, winning strategies, political polling, building party support networks, and strengthening the Democratic Party’s ideology and manifesto.
He hopes participants will return home with renewed spirit to strengthen the party’s machinery in their regions while also reinforcing national consolidation of the Democratic Party as it faces upcoming political contests.