Regarding Anies' Visit to Cikeas, Democrats: Purely a Social Call

The Democratic Party has commented on Anies Baswedan’s presence at the halalbihalal event hosted by the sixth President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or SBY, in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java.

Democratic Party Secretary General Herman Khaeron stated that Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah is an opportune moment for Muslims to forgive one another and pray for goodness. “The same applies to Mas Anies’ presence in Cikeas,” Herman said when contacted on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

According to Herman, Anies’ visit to Yudhoyono’s private residence was for Eid al-Fitr socialising. “And there were no other discussions; it was purely socialising,” he said.

Previously, former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was seen attending the Eid al-Fitr halalbihalal event at SBY’s residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. The moment of Anies’ attendance was shared by Merry Riana, who serves as Special Staff to the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono alias AHY, on her Instagram account @merryriana.

In the post, Merry shared several photos and videos. One video uploaded by Merry showed the Yudhoyono family conversing with Anies. SBY and AHY were seen standing in front of Anies, while Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono alias Ibas was nearby to the three of them.

Anies Baswedan’s spokesperson, Angga Putra Fidrian, said that Anies and the Yudhoyono family discussed only general matters. “About family, about Eid al-Fitr, and about the current situation,” Angga said when contacted on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

Anies Baswedan’s relationship with the Democratic Party, led by Agus Yudhoyono, became turbulent during the 2024 presidential election contestation. In early 2023, Anies had accepted the Democrats’ overtures to run as a presidential candidate.

At that time, the Democrats, along with the Prosperous Justice Party and NasDem, agreed to form the Coalition for Change for Unity as the coalition supporting Anies for the 2024 general election.

However, towards the end of presidential candidate registration, Anies instead ran with the General Chairman of the National Awakening Party, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar. The decision to pair Anies with Muhaimin is suspected to have been made by the General Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Dharma Paloh.

The Democrats then exited the Coalition for Change and withdrew their support for Anies Baswedan in September 2023. The party with the mercy star emblem eventually joined the Advanced Indonesia Coalition and supported Gerindra Party General Chairman Prabowo Subianto—who won the 2024 presidential election.