Democrat Party Courts Motivator Merry Riana for Campaign Role
Jakarta – Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), Chairman of the Democrat Party, has invited motivational speaker and author Merry Riana to join the party, offering her a potential role as a spokesperson and campaigner. Riana accepted a membership card on Monday, February 9, 2026, and expressed her willingness to learn and contribute to the party’s efforts.
“I’ll wait for instructions from the Chairman,” Riana said after receiving her membership card at the Democrat Party headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta. “But I am always ready to learn, especially since this is a new area for me, a new world.”
Riana indicated she would approach her involvement with the party gradually, hoping to make a meaningful contribution. “Allow me to process and learn step by step. But at least today, I’m happy to have found a new home where I can hopefully give back and do more concretely,” she stated.
Currently, Riana’s initial assignment within the party is to chair the committee for the National Imlek (Lunar New Year) celebration. She expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her by AHY.
“This demonstrates how inclusive the Democrat Party is, and I’m pleased they are creating space for friends who celebrate Imlek – including myself and those here with me – to celebrate together,” she said.
The Imlek celebration hosted by the Democrat Party is scheduled for February 18, 2026, in the afternoon.
AHY had earlier presented 48 new membership cards, including one to Riana, and suggested she would be a suitable national campaigner for the party. “If I heard correctly, Miss Merry is ready to be a campaigner? That’s amazing,” AHY said during the event. “She already speaks fluently about nationalism and religion, and the values of the Democrat Party. She even knows the chants!”
AHY believes Riana’s experience as a motivational speaker will translate well to public speaking engagements, and plans to test her abilities with a speech to a large crowd in the future. “Because she’s accustomed to being a motivator, we’ll see how she does in front of a large crowd in an open space, giving a speech,” he added.