The Palace's Preferred Slate at the NU Congress

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Held in Jombang, East Java, the 35th Congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama was already reverberating in Jakarta several days before its opening. Several members of the Red and White Cabinet and Gerindra Party politicians gathered at Wisma Negara state guest house in the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta during the second week of August 2026 to discuss the congress.

Two sources, one of them a state official based at the Palace, said the meeting was attended, among others, by two nahdliyin (members of Nahdlatul Ulama) who serve as ministers, Saifullah Yusuf and Nusron Wahid. Also present were State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Nasaruddin Umar, the Religious Affairs Minister who at the time was considering a bid for Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU) chair, and National Intelligence Agency Chief Muhammad Herindra also attended. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad was there as well.

The meeting, attended by ministers and people close to President Prabowo Subianto, discussed matters related to the congress, which was to be held at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) in Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java. According to one participant, the mechanism for electing the PBNU leadership was among the topics discussed.