Nahdlatul Ulama Congress Elects Yahya Cholil Staquf as Chairperson

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yahya Cholil Staquf has officially been elected as the new chairperson of Nahdlatul Ulama in the 34th NU congress held in Lampung on Friday. He will lead one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations from 2021 to 2026. 

Yahya received 337 votes while the incumbent candidate Said Aqil Siradj only garnered 210 votes. 

His election came after a lengthy congress session held from Thursday noon, December 23, at the Lampung University. The congress came into a decision on Friday morning after a tough deliberation. 

During the voting process at 02:00 Indonesia Western Time (WIB), Gus Yahya surpassed Said with 327 against 203. The two candidates received over 99 votes then qualified to progress to the next stage. 

Both men were adamant to move forward as candidates after sets of discussions which led to the second voting process at 06:40 WIB. Yahya was eventually elected two hours later.

Yahya Cholil Staquf was born in Rembang, February 16, 1966, and is known to manage the Raudlatut Tholibin Rembang Islamic boarding school (pesantren) together with a known Islamic figure Gus Mus. After graduating from high school in Yogyakarta he studied sociology at Gadjah Mada University, but did not complete it. 

He was once a spokesperson for the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, who was popularly called Gus Dur in 1999-2001. He took the position of Katib Aam in the Nahdlatul Ulama prior to his election as chair. 

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EGI ADYATAMA