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Analyst urges complete overhaul of KPU election debates
A UI analyst has criticized the format of the 2024 election debates, suggesting the KPU to take some pointers from similar events held in other countries, including the UK and the US.
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Presidential candidates (from left) Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan link hands at the close of the first presidential debate, held on Dec. 12, 2023 at the Jakarta headquarters of the General Elections Commission (KPU). (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Public policy analyst Vishnu Juwono from the University of Indonesia (UI) has called on the General Elections Commission (KPU) to completely overhaul the format for the subsequent sessions of the 2024 election debates.
“The debate format [designed] by the KPU is not conducive to presidential candidates in conveying their visions, missions and opinions,” Vishnu said on Thursday, as quoted by Antara News.
He said the KPU could take notes from the format of election debates held in countries like Australia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Vishnu also said the first presidential debate was rigid, with too many rules and too much ceremony.
“With packaging like this, the presidential candidates have only a very limited time to respond to questions,” he added. A simpler format with fewer questions would provide ample space for the candidates to more comprehensively expound their views on public policy.
Vishnu also commented that the moderators merely served as emcees and timekeepers, instead of effectively delivering questions and cross-checking the candidates’ responses.
He continued by reviewing the dynamics during the debate between the three presidential candidates, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo.
