The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) establishment has reaffirmed its support for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ahead of the 2024 presidential election, saying that the Islamic organization would “never be too far away” from the nationalist leader.

NU chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf expressed the group’s support for the incumbent president as he opened NU's Big Congress and Scholar National Conference (Musyawarah Nasional Alim Ulama dan Konferensi Besar) in Jakarta on Monday. The event was attended by the President and some of his ministers, including Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir.

"Mr. President is never too far from the NU central board [PBNU] and has stayed with the NU up to this point. InsyaAllah [God willing], the NU will never be too far away from Jokowi as well," Yahya said during his speech.

In his speech, Yahya also thanked Jokowi for his contribution to the establishment of a new nine-story building in Nahdatul Ulama University (UNU) in Yogyakarta and for facilitating a cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to create a new study program at the university.

Jokowi meanwhile urged the NU to consolidate its members and improve their skills in various aspects, including in social, religious, humanitarian, technology and business subjects. "NU power is extraordinary. It has so many members, all across the nation, even overseas. We need to consolidate this big power," he said.

Yahya’s reiteration of the NU’s support for Jokowi has sparked speculation that the NU establishment is supporting the presidential candidate endorsed by the President, who has sought to influence the hunt for his successor. Yahya has played down the speculation, saying that, “the NU as an institution is not taking part in [the election].”   

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