Jakarta. Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation as chairman of the Golkar Party on Sunday, emphasizing the party's significant achievements under his leadership.

In a recorded video statement, Airlangga noted that Golkar successfully nominated Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, as the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, leading to their decisive victory in the February election.

During the simultaneous legislative election, Golkar secured 102 seats, making it the second-largest party in the House of Representatives.

"For the past 60 years, the Golkar Party has been a pillar of democracy in Indonesia," he said.

Airlangga, 61, expressed his gratitude to President Jokowi, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, President-Elect Prabowo, and Vice President-Elect Gibran for their support. He also acknowledged the contributions of former leaders and senior figures in Golkar who have supported him since he assumed the chairmanship in December 2017.

His sudden resignation came as a surprise, given Golkar's electoral success and recent endorsements from party affiliates supporting his continued leadership. 

Airlangga did not provide specific reasons for his departure, stating only that his decision was made "in the interest of ensuring a smooth transition of power in the government and preserving the unity of the Golkar Party."