NU Congress: Disagreement over election of PBNU chairman

A significant debate over the election process for the top leadership of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has surfaced at the organization's 35th Congress in Jombang, East Java. The core of the disagreement lies in the mechanism for choosing the Chairman of the PBNU (Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama).

KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla, a current PBNU Chairman, firmly defended the tradition of direct election by the congress attendees, known as 'muktamirin.' He argued that this is a fundamental issue requiring deep discussion and that the congress should provide ample space for participants to voice their arguments before any decision is made.

“

I argue to remain yes (the Chairman of PBNU remains elected by muktamirin).

"I argue to remain yes (the Chairman of PBNU remains elected by muktamirin)," Gus Ulil stated during the session. He views the discussion of the NU's bylaws as one of the most critical aspects of the congress and believes that differing opinions on leadership selection should not be avoided. If consensus cannot be reached, he proposed that voting would be a legitimate and religiously permissible option.

“

Later, if an agreement can be reached, thank God. If not, then voting will have to be taken. We don't need to avoid or forbid voting. Voting is valid according to syar'i and according to the jam'iyah Nahdlatul Ulama.

Conversely, another PBNU Chairman, KH Fahrur Rozi (Gus Fahrur), favors a mechanism where the Chairman is appointed directly by the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) team. Gus Ulil countered this by explaining that the AHWA, a council of esteemed scholars, has historically been tasked with electing the Rais Aam Syuriyah (Supreme Leader), not the Chairman of the executive board (tanfidziyah). He expressed concern that applying AHWA to the executive chairman role would diminish its sacred status, which is traditionally reserved for selecting the highest spiritual leader of the community.

Gus Ulil did, however, open the door for AHWA to play a role in narrowing down candidates. He suggested a compromise where AHWA could select a shortlist of five potential candidates, who would then be put to a vote by the muktamirin. This approach, he believes, would appropriately differentiate the sacred role of the Rais Aam, chosen by the scholars, from the executive responsibilities of the Chairman, which he maintains should remain the right of the congress attendees.

“

Now, we are separating the syuriah and tanfidziyah. Therefore, if AHWA is applied to elect tanfidziyah, in my opinion, it actually degrades the position of AHWA.