In a video statement on Sunday, Airlangga said he had effectively stepped down from his position a night before, after much consideration.

He said the decision was taken to “maintain Golkar’s integrity in ensuring the stability of the government transition that will soon occur”, but he did not elaborate further.

Golkar supports Jokowi’s outgoing administration and is part of the Gerindra Party-led Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) behind the victory of incoming president Prabowo and vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son.

Airlangga’s resignation ended his seven-year leadership of Golkar. Airlangga joined the party in 1998 and was elected as its chair in 2017, replacing Setya Novanto who is currently serving time in prison for corruption. Airlangga was supposed to end his tenure later this year.

The news of Airlangga’s resignation came as a surprise amid the ongoing tussle over power sharing in the incoming Prabowo administration that began not long after the February election, with KIM parties claiming to have worked hard during the campaign season and to have contributed the most to Prabowo’s resounding victory.

Reports emerged in May that Airlangga and National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Zulkifli Hasan were vying for the same seat in Prabowo’s cabinet, that of the energy and mineral resources minister. Airlangga currently serves in the Jokowi administration as the coordinating economic minister while Zulkifli serves as the trade minister.