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Presidential candidates to face off in debates ahead of polls
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced five dates for the forthcoming presidential and vice presidential debates.
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The race begins: Standing with their allocated numbers, presidential candidates (from left) Anies Baswedan and running mate Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Ganjar Pranowo and running mate Mahfud MD pose for the media at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Nov. 14, 2023. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
Five debates have been scheduled for the three-month presidential campaign season, offering candidates the chance to defend their visions and challenge their opponents to win over voters for next year’s election.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced five dates for the forthcoming presidential and vice presidential debates. Two will be held this year, on Dec. 12 and 22, while the third and fourth are slated for Jan. 7 and 21, 2024.
The final debate is scheduled for Feb. 4, less than a week before the end of the official campaign period on Feb. 10, which will be followed by a three-day cool-off period ahead of voting day.
“All presidential and vice presidential candidates will participate in the first and last debate. The two events will take place at the KPU headquarters,” KPU commissioner Idham Kholik told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
A recently passed KPU bylaw stipulates that the upcoming debates will consist of three presidential and two vice presidential debates, but it remains unclear which debates will feature the presidential or vice presidential candidates without their running mates.
Read also: Civil groups vow close scrutiny of 2024 race
A document obtained by The Jakarta Post outlining the topics of the debates lists the first as focusing on law, human rights and democracy and the second on defense, security and international relations.
