The appointment of KH Zulfa Mustofa as acting chairman of PBNU has been framed publicly as an administrative step to fill a leadership vacuum. In reality, it marks a decisive political shift inside Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)—a shift that reflects a deeper confrontation between state power, oligarchic interests, and the pesantren-based moral authority that has long defined NU’s identity. At the center of this confrontation is former vice president Ma’ruf Amin, whose influence, though quiet, has now re-emerged with unmistakable clarity. To subscribe please click here
