V presenter Tina Talisa co-moderated the second Jakarta gubernatorial election debate on Friday and said she was challenged by the highly-enthusiastic supporters from all three tickets.
The supporters frequently chanted and shouted slogans during the debate.
“The biggest challenge for me moderating the debate was to calm down the supporters,” Tina said at Bidakara Hotel after the debate.
Tina and her moderator partner Eko Prasojo, a lecturer in public administration at the University of Indonesia, had a hard time asking the supporters to stay calm while the candidates were speaking on the stage.
Tina even suggested that the supporters leave the venue if they could not control themselves.
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni’s supporters constantly made noise by chanting “Agus, Sylvi sure to win.”
The supporters of Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno, meanwhile, shouted “OK-OCE,” referring to the One Kecamatan-One Center of Entrepreneurship program offered by the ticket.
The supporters of incumbents Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat chanted support while raising a two-finger salute. Ahok’s ballot number is 2.
(Read also: Antasari Azhar attends second Jakarta gubernatorial debate)
“I saw this as expression of enthusiasm ahead of election day. This is a gubernatorial election but it feels just like a presidential election,” the former news anchor said.
Separately, Eko said he thought the enthusiasm of the supporters during the event was normal. (bbs)
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