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Presidential contenders to participate in UI student body’s debate
The University of Indonesia's Student Executive Body (BEM UI) has issued an invitation to the three presidential hopefuls for an informal debate on their ideas for the nation in September.
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University of Indonesia campus in Depok, West Java. (Tribunnews/Herudin)
Three presumptive presidential candidates, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan, are expected to take part in an informal debate staged by the University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Body (BEM UI).
“We have issued the challenge for each candidate to come to UI and have their thoughts and ideas tested,” BEM UI head Melki Sedek Huang said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com. The debate is slated for Sept. 14.
Students from other universities can attend and will be invited to the debate, he said, adding that the nation’s future leaders must be ready to have their ideas challenged by students.
The UI student body had received positive responses from all three presumptive presidential candidates. “They or their spokespersons have stated that the candidates are ready to come and share their ideas with UI students,” Melki said.
BEM UI, which had a role behind the country’s student movement, issued its invitation on Tuesday, days after a Constitutional Court ruling that allows election participants to hold campaign events in government buildings and educational institutions, including universities. The event must have a permit from the establishment and not use any campaign attributes.
Read also: KPU to allow campaigns in govt buildings, schools
Opposition figurehead Anies, whose presidential bid is being backed by the Coalition for Change electoral alliance comprising the NasDem, Democratic and Prosperous Justice (PKS) parties, was the first to respond to BEM UI.
