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Presidential candidates ready for first debate
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Presidential and vice presidential candidates (from left) Prabowo Subianto and running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ganjar Pranowo and running mate Mahfud MD and Anies Baswedan and running mate Muhaimin Iskandar pose for the press on Nov. 14, 2023, at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
All three presidential candidates have said they are ready to face off in the first debate of the 2024 campaign on Tuesday, for which the General Elections Commission (KPU) has selected 11 expert panelists to ask questions on issues of law, human rights and democracy.
Muhammad Syaugi, campaign manager for Anies Baswedan, said the former Jakarta governor had been organizing a series of public discussions called Desak Anies (challenge Anies) to prepare for the first debate.
"These discussions seek to give opportunities for young people to ask any questions about Anies’ policy goals and various national issues, so I’m sure Anies is ready to participate in Tuesday's debate, as he’s been trained to answer difficult questions," Syaugi said on Sunday.
Nusron Wahid, secretary of the campaign team for three-time presidential contender Prabowo Subianto, said the defense minister was already well prepared for Tuesday's showdown.
"Prabowo has been ready for presidential debates for more than 15 years," Nusron said.
Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also said he was ready for the debate.
"My running mate and I have participated in public debates before. So we'll just come to the first official debate as scheduled and just do it – we're ready," he said on Saturday.
