The unexpected decision of presumptive presidential candidate Anies Baswedan to name Muhaimin Iskandar, leader of the country’s largest Islamic party, as his running mate for next year’s presidential race is expected to influence vice-presidential candidate selection within rival camps, possibly turning the race into a competition among Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figures.

Anies, 54, named Muhaimin, 56, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which has close ties to NU, the country’s largest Islamic organization, as his running mate last week, a move aimed at broadening his mostly conservative base in hopes of boosting his chances of winning the presidency.  

As an Islamic organization that represents many of the country’s mainstream Muslims, NU has become a powerful political force with an estimated membership of 45 million. The organization and its members could provide a swing factor in deciding who will be Indonesia’s next president.

With Anies and Muhaimin as the first confirmed pairing in what is expected to be a three-way presidential race, all eyes are now on who will run alongside the two other likely presidential candidates, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who have yet to decide on their running mates.

“NU may play a key role in the 2024 presidential election as we see stiff competition among presumptive presidential candidates,” political analyst Adi Prayitno of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University told The Jakarta Post, adding that NU figures appeared to be getting a “bonus” from the upcoming race.

Read also: Muhaimin’s VP bid exposes fissures in NU elite

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