Jakarta. The National Awakening Party (PKB) has officially thrown its support behind President-elect Prabowo Subianto and his vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, despite previously backing Anies Baswedan in the 2024 Presidential Election. PKB's chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar, was Anies' running mate during the campaign.

"Although informally in various forums, Chairman Gus Muhaimin has already communicated that PKB will be part of Mr. Prabowo Subianto's government," said PKB Deputy Secretary-General Syaiful Huda to reporters during the PKB Congress at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali, on Saturday.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin is expected to attend the opening ceremony.

"Founders of Nahdlatul Ulama, political analysts, ambassadors, and representatives from several parties will be present at the opening," Syaiful added during a press conference at Bali Nusa Dua.

Just days prior, PKB dismissed Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and two other prominent figures amid rising tensions between the party and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization.

PKB Deputy Chairman Hanif Dhakiri recently announced that Yaqut, NU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, and Lukman Edy were dismissed from the party due to severe breaches of internal regulations. The trio was also excluded from the upcoming PKB national congress in Bali.

Historically, Nahdlatul Ulama has been the incubator for PKB, with both entities united by the values of moderate Islam and pluralism promoted by the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur. However, their relationship has become strained over various issues, including the presidential election and a proposed House of Representatives inquiry into the government's handling of the last Hajj pilgrimage.

The House inquiry was initiated by PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, leading to suspicions that he was targeting Minister Yaqut, the younger brother of NU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf. In response, NU leaders formed a special committee to "revisit history," accusing the current PKB leadership of abandoning its NU roots.

Muhaimin has emphasized that PKB is not solely the political arm of NU, asserting that the party is committed to "advancing the interests of all Indonesian people."

NU has formed an inquiry team to investigate Muhaimin’s leadership amid allegations that he is steering the party away from its NU roots to serve his personal ambitions.

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