The Nasdem Party’s High Council, or commonly referred to as Board of Trustees, has re-elected Surya Paloh as Chairman for the 2024-2029 period, following a plenary meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
Surya Paloh has been a significant figure in Indonesian politics and media. As the founder of the Nasdem Party, he has played a crucial role in shaping the party’s ideology and policies.
His reelection underscores the party’s confidence in his leadership and vision for Nasdem’s future. The Nasdem Party has been known for its commitment to restoration and reform in Indonesian politics, and under Surya’s leadership, it aims to continue advocating for these principles.
“This decision takes effect and is binding as soon as it is established,” IGK Manila, Secretary of the Nasdem Party High Council, said while announcing the decision in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
In his reelection speech, Surya acknowledged that many had anticipated his reelection as Chairman. He, however, stressed that he would not lead the Nasdem Party indefinitely and pledged to strengthen the party over the next five years.
“Nasdem must become a political party institution that rebuilds its pioneering spirit and values,” he said.
Surya encouraged Nasdem cadres to lead the party towards its ideals and uphold honesty, while emphasizing that honorable goals should not be defeated by pragmatic groups.
This year’s Nasdem Party Congress was opened by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who reminisced about his early relationship with Surya Paloh and Nasdem during his opening remarks.
Nasdem’s relationship with Jokowi had cooled after initially being close at the beginning of Jokowi’s administration in 2014.
“It still feels the same. Just like when we first met,” Jokowi said while opening the Nasdem Congress in Jakarta on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The reelection of Surya Paloh as Chairman indicates continuity and stability within the Nasdem Party leadership. It also reflects the party’s unshaken trust in Surya’s leadership.