NU Congress Expected to Produce Leaders with Nine Key Criteria

The upcoming 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress in Jombang, East Java, from August 27-31, 2026, is poised to select a new leadership for the organization's central board (PBNU). The highest forum of the organization is tasked with electing leaders who can maintain NU's dual role as a religious and societal organization amidst evolving challenges. Activist and youth figure Hatim Gazali emphasizes that the congress is not merely about choosing a new chairman but also about charting the organization's course through complex social, economic, political, and technological dynamics. Gazali points to a 2025 Alvara Research Center survey indicating that approximately 140 million Indonesians identify as Nahdliyin, underscoring the immense responsibility of PBNU leadership. He outlined nine essential criteria for prospective leaders, including the ability to unite the organization internally, strong ties to traditional pesantren education, extensive experience from local to central levels, and both national and global perspectives. Crucially, leaders must maintain NU's independence, avoiding political party affiliations or holding political office. They should champion the less fortunate, balance pesantren traditions with modernization, and possess proven religious scholarship, organizational acumen, integrity, and service records. "NU leaders need to have national and global insight, maintain organizational independence by not being part of a political party or holding political office, and be able to make NU a civil society force that remains critical yet constructive," Hatim stated. He believes such leadership will uphold the prestige of pesantren while strengthening NU's contribution to national and global issues. Hatim hopes the congress will yield a figure with broad support who can preserve unity, enhance service to the community, and guide NU into its second century with an adaptive vision.