Gerindra Extraordinary Congress: Prabowo Returns as General Chairman, Asked to Run for President in 2029

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Gerindra Party Extraordinary Congress, which was held suddenly at the Hambalang Complex, Bogor Regency, West Java, Thursday (13/2/2025), decided to re-appoint Prabowo Subianto as the party's general chairman and chairman of the board of trustees.

Even though he was just elected as the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia through the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) and started his government in the last three months, the highest party forum also asked for Prabowo's willingness to be nominated again in the next five years.

The Extraordinary Congress (KLB) of the Gerindra Party took place behind closed doors at the residence of President Prabowo Subianto, who is also the general chairman and chairman of the political party's (parpol) advisory board at the Hambalang Complex, Bogor Regency, West Java, Thursday (13/2/2025).

The agenda suddenly replaced the previously scheduled event, namely the Gerindra National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas). The Rapimnas attended by the central, regional, and branch administrators of Gerindra was held two days before the national celebration of Gerindra's 17th Anniversary on Saturday (2/15/2025).

Until Thursday at around 07.00 WIB, there had been no changes to the schedule within Gerindra. In fact, Gerindra Deputy Chairman Habiburokhman still had time to upload video content showing himself in Hambalang, two hours before the Rapimnas began at 09.00 WIB. In the video, the atmosphere of President Prabowo's residence complex was seen, which was fitted with red and white tents.

At around 15:30 WIB, the administrators of the Central Leadership Council (DPP), Regional Leadership Council (DPD), and Branch Leadership Council (DPC) of Gerindra began to leave the Rapimnas arena, one of whom was Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas. He said that in the forum, the General Chairperson and Chairperson of the Gerindra Advisory Board had reported their accountability to all DPD and DPC administrators. The agenda is generally carried out in party congresses.

When contacted, Gerindra Daily Chair Sufmi Dasco Ahmad admitted that the Rapimnas forum had been changed to an Extraordinary General Meeting at the request of the meeting participants. The Extraordinary General Meeting also decided to elect the party's general chairman as in previous congresses or Extraordinary General Meetings.

"Earlier, the request from the meeting participants was to make Rapimnas into an Extraordinary General Meeting. And to re-appoint Mr. Prabowo as the party's general chairman for the next five years and sole formator," he told Kompas.

In Hambalang, Gerindra Secretary General Ahmad Muzani confirmed that the Rapimnas forum had been changed to an Extraordinary General Meeting based on the request of the meeting participants. The meeting participants were the administrators of the DPP, DPD, and DPC Gerindra from all over Indonesia. Not only that, all councils, members of the Gerindra Party Faction in the DPR and the Provincial and Regency/City DPRD were also present to attend the Rapimnas.

Referring to Gerindra's Articles of Association/Bylaws (AD/ART), Muzani said, an EGM can be held if there is a request from 2/3 of the total Rapimnas members. However, this time all participants submitted it and it was approved by the chairman of the advisory board. Therefore, there is no reason not to hold an EGM.

Muzani continued, the KLB produced five decisions, including accepting the accountability report from the DPP during the 2020-2025 management period.

In addition, Prabowo was also appointed as the General Chairman and Chairman of the Gerindra Advisory Board for the next five years based on the request of the cadres. The KLB also appointed Prabowo as the sole formator to perfect the AD/ART and to form the DPP management for the next five years.

"And finally, the congress asked him to be willing to be nominated as a presidential candidate from the Gerindra Party (in the 2029 Presidential Election). Regarding this, he stated God willing, but he asked to be given time to complete his presidential duties, fulfill his promises to the people," said Muzani.

Prabowo was elected as the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia based on the results of the 2024 Presidential Election held in February 2024. He, who was paired with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, won over two other candidate pairs in one round. The Prabowo-Gibran pair were inaugurated on October 20, 2024 and are now entering the fourth month of their term.

According to Muzani, Gerindra cadres feel that Prabowo's leadership in the party must be continued. Therefore, Prabowo is considered worthy to lead Gerindra again and be nominated as a presidential candidate for the next five years.

"Because we feel that the improvement and increase in welfare through pro-people programs by President Prabowo must be continued. So that the improvement in welfare and economic improvement of the people and the country can be felt more optimally," he said.

This will be Prabowo's fourth term as Gerindra's leader. Although he is the founder of the party, Prabowo was not the first Gerindra chairman. He only took office in 2014 to replace Suhardi who had served since 2008 but died in 2014. After replacing Suhardi during 2014-2015, Gerindra cadres elected Prabowo as chairman for the 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 terms.

Kompas notes that the Gerindra management led by Prabowo for the past five years was formed after the Gerindra Extraordinary Congress in August 2020. The management that lasted for five years will end in August this year. Instead of holding a congress in August 2025, Gerindra chose to hold an Extraordinary Congress six months earlier.

According to Muzani, the term of the Gerindra management for the 2020-2025 period does end this year. However, there is no provision that it will end on a specific date and month. Therefore, a new management can be formed after holding an Extraordinary General Meeting.

The holding of the KLB in February 2025, said Muzani, had been discussed long ago. It was one of the results of the decisions of the Gerindra Rapimnas which was held on August 24, 2024. The Rapimnas which was supposed to be held this Thursday, was a continuation of the Rapimnas on August 24, 2024.

"Based on the Rapimnas on August 24, 2024, we request that the chairman of the advisory board hold a congress or KLB in February, coinciding with the month in which Gerindra celebrates its anniversary," said Muzani.

On February 6, 2025, Gerindra will enter its 17th year. According to the plan, the party's anniversary celebration will be held at the Sentul International Convention Center, West Java, on Saturday (2/15/2025). The day before, Friday (2/14/2025), Prabowo will invite all the general chairmen of political parties that are members of the Indonesia Maju Plus Coalition, a coalition of political parties supporting the government, to a gathering in Hambalang.