Anas Urbaningrum (born 15 July 1969) is an Indonesian politician who is the chairman of the Nusantara Awakening Party. He was the chairman of the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat), the party who won Indonesia's general election in 2009, between 2010 and 2013. Elected at the age of 40, he was one of the youngest party leaders in Indonesia. Before this, he was the head of the Democratic Party's national division on Political and Regional Autonomy, and also the head of the Democratic fraction in House of Representatives (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia.
Anas was elected to become a member of Indonesia's Parliament during the election of 2009 from the election region of East Java VII, which includes the Blitar City, Blitar Regency, Kediri City, Kediri Regency, and Tulungagung Regency obtaining the highest votes. He has since resigned from this position in the Parliament following his election as party chairman. After being named a graft suspect by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly taking a bribe in relation with the construction of the Hambalang sports complex, he resigned from the post of the Democratic Party chairman on 23 February 2013.
In September 2014 he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for corruption. He was released on 10 July 2023.
Early life
Anas was born in the village of Ngaglik, Srengat, Blitar, East Java and spent his primary, middle and high school years there. His family had links with the Nahdlatul Ulama movement, his father being a schoolteacher and an Islamic cleric. After graduating from high school, he studied at Arilangga University in Surabaya through the national program for gifted students (Penelusuran Minat dan Kemampuan or PMDK) in 1987. He majored in political science in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, graduating in 1992.
Anas continued his education in the Graduate School at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta and obtained his master's degree in political science in 2000. His thesis has been published as Democratic-Islam: The Thoughts of Nurcholish Madji (Republika, 2000). He is currently finishing his doctoral program in political science in the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
Political career
Anas entered the political arena through a college student organization. He joined the Islamic Students Association (HMI) and became the chairman of HMI during the congress in Yogyakarta in 1997.
As the leader of the largest student organization, Anas became involved in political reform of 1998. During this time he became a member of the Political Law Revision Team, or Team Seven, which was pursuing the demands of the Reformasi movement.
During the first democratic election in 1999 Anas became a member of the Political Parties Selection Team, or Team Eleven, and took the responsibility to verify the eligibility of political parties to participate in the national election. He then became a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU) in 2001-2005 which initiated the election of 2004.
After resigning from the KPU, Anas joined the Democratic Party and has been Head of the Political and Regional Autonomy division since 2005.
Becoming Member of Parliament
Anas was appointed as member of parliament in the election of 2009 from the voting region of East Java VII which includes the cities of Blitar, Blitar District, Kediri, Kediri and Tulungagung District taking in the largest votes at 178.381 votes, surpassing the numeric voting division (BPP) which is 177.374 votes.
On 1 October 2009, Anas was appointed as the head of the Democratic Party Fraction in Parliament. His biggest task involved unifying the Democratic Party in their voice during the case of Century Bank.
Following his election as party chairman on 23 July 2010, Anas resigned from the DPR.
Chosen as Chairman of the Democratic Party
As the party who won the election of 2009, the second congress of the Democratic Party in Bandung 20–23 May 2010 becomes an important milestone in the politics of Indonesia.
Anas declared his candidacy in Jakarta on 15 April 2010. In his declaration speech, Anas emphasized that his goal was not to fight or win a race. His candidacy was not to secure a high standing official position. According to Anas, congress is arena for amicable competition amongst brothers. "All candidates are the best cadres and brothers that represent the Democratic Party."