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Presidential debate: So who won?
To some extent the event last Thursday was not even a debate, let alone a presidential one that could put the incumbent at serious risk.
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Presidential candidates Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin and presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno are on stage during the first candidate debate on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2019. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he first presidential debate has failed to live up to the expectations of many. To some extent the event last Thursday was not even a debate, let alone a presidential one that could put the incumbent at serious risk.
People may try to weigh who won the debate, which addressed the topics of human rights, corruption and terrorism. In terms of stage performance, Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno clearly stole the show, due to their style of firmness and upfront public speaking skills in words and in body language. They also seized a good share of the speaking time by throwing questions or giving answers to the rival pair collaboratively.
By contrast, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s style and body language projected weak posture and a lack of firmness as adopted different postures and gestures. He and his running mate Ma’ruf Amin did not speak as much as expected in a debate.
As if to project consistency, we saw the same pattern during the unofficial delivery of the candidates’ visions and missions, televised separately, where Jokowi chose to go alone, informal, interactive and within a small, prepared audience.
