Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), will elect a new executive chairman at its 35th Congress at the end of August in East Java — the group’s historical heartland. The outcome could determine whether NU’s national leadership continues its current alignment with the presidential administration or pivots in response to pressures from local branches.
High stakes for internal direction and political ties
NU’s leadership vote follows a fractious contest in 2021, when Yahya Cholil Staquf prevailed after a tense campaign. He is now seeking a second term, arguing that he must finish work begun during his first five-year period. Among his stated priorities is the promotion of digital management skills across NU’s network of branches and chapters.
"continue his unfinished agenda during his first five-year term, which includes promoting and upgrading digital management skills to NU branches and chapters"
But the race has attracted multiple contenders. One of the better‑placed challengers, Muhammad Yusuf Chudlori — an education figure who runs the Asrama Perguruan Islam boarding school in Magelang, Central Java — has publicly secured backing from 23 NU branches in Central Java. That endorsement is notable because formal candidacy requires nomination by at least 99 branches, and most potential rivals have not disclosed comparable public support.
Numbers that matter
The organisational structure and nomination rules make the contest a test of national reach versus concentrated local influence. The broad strokes:
- Approximately 400–500 NU chapters and branches exist across the country.
- A candidate must be nominated by at least 99 branches to qualify for the executive chair.
- Muhammad Yusuf has announced public backing from 23 branches in Central Java.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Estimated NU branches and chapters nationwide | 400–500 |
| Nomination threshold for chairman candidates | 99 branches |
| Public backing for Muhammad Yusuf (Central Java) | 23 branches |
The scale of support needed to stand makes it difficult for purely local favourites to mount credible national bids without broader organisational alliances. That dynamic places a premium on coalition‑building with influential regional leaders and existing national officeholders.
Potential directions after the vote
If the incumbent maintains control, NU is likely to continue emphasising institutional modernisation and its existing engagements with state authorities. A victory for a candidate rooted in grassroots networks could recalibrate the organisation’s focus toward local priorities and possibly dilute the perceived closeness to the presidency.
At this stage there is no clear front‑runner. Several figures from the grassroots have signalled interest but, aside from Muhammad Yusuf, have not disclosed public branch endorsements large enough to meet the nomination requirement. That uncertainty leaves the outcome open and places significance on the final days of branch‑level negotiations ahead of the congress.
The congress will be watched closely both inside Indonesia and by external observers attentive to how mass religious organisations influence national politics. For NU — an association with deep social reach and substantial membership — the election is about more than personnel: it is a contest over the organisation’s posture toward modernisation, internal democracy and its role in the national political landscape.
How delegates interpret the balance between continuity and change will shape NU’s trajectory in the years ahead and could affect its relations with political leaders in Jakarta.
