The Palace’s Preferred Slate at the NU Congress

Nahdlatul Ulama’s 35th Congress was still days away in Jombang, East Java, but its leadership contest had already reached Jakarta. In the second week of August 2026, ministers and Gerindra Party politicians gathered at Wisma Negara, a state guest house inside the Presidential Palace complex, to discuss the congress.

Two sources, including a state official based at the Palace, said the meeting brought together several figures from President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. Those present included Saifullah Yusuf and Nusron Wahid, two ministers who are members of Nahdlatul Ulama, along with State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Nasaruddin Umar, the religious affairs minister who was then considering a bid to become chair of the NU Central Board, also attended, the sources said. So did Muhammad Herindra, head of the National Intelligence Agency, and Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

The participants discussed matters connected with the congress, which was due to take place at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang. One participant said the meeting included discussion of the process for electing the organization’s leadership.

The gathering highlights the political interest surrounding the congress. Tempo’s description of the meeting says politicians and officials from Prabowo’s administration sought to push through their preferred candidates to lead NU.