Jakarta. Surya Paloh was reappointed as chairman of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) for a third consecutive term on Tuesday. His reappointment came by acclamation during the party’s national congress, a result that Surya admitted did not surprise him.

In his acceptance speech at the closing of the three-day congress held at the Jakarta Convention Center, Surya expressed gratitude for the continued trust placed in him.

"I believe many had already predicted that this congress would once again entrust the Nasdem leadership to me," Surya said. "I am grateful and humbly accept this mandate."

He also cautioned against politicians who seek to exploit Nasdem for personal gain, warning that the party has no room for such "political adventurers."

The media mogul co-founded Nasdem in 2011 after breaking away from the Golkar Party. Initially, former National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Patrice Rio Capella was appointed as Nasdem’s first chairman. However, Paloh took over the leadership two years later at the party’s inaugural congress following the departure of key figures such as Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Yogyakarta’s Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

In Nasdem's electoral debut in 2014, the party won an impressive 35 seats in the House of Representatives. Under Surya’s leadership, the party increased its representation by 23 seats in the 2019 elections and gained an additional 10 seats in the most recent election in February, solidifying Nasdem’s influence as a rising political force in Indonesia.

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