TPN Ganjar Disappointed KPU Changes The Debate Form Of Presidential And Vice Presidential Candidates: These Are Tricks, The Public Is Not Stupid

DOC VOI

JAKARTA - The Ganjar-Mahfud National Winning Team (TPN) regrets the composition of the 2024 presidential and vice presidential debate format by the General Election Commission (KPU).

TPN Deputy for Law Ganjar-Mahfud, Todung Mulya Lubis also assessed that the statement by KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy'ari regarding the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs having to attend five debates was a trick.

"Frankly, sorry for the statement made by the Chairman of the KPU, Brother Hasyim Asy'ari, who said that the debate was still held five times, but was attended by the two candidate pairs and vice presidential candidates," said Todung as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, December 2.

According to Todung, referring to Article 277 of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Pemilu) and KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 15 of 2023 concerning Election Campaigns, the debate for presidential election participants should be divided into two, namely three presidential candidates and two vice presidential debates.

However, the simultaneous presence of the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs in the vice presidential debate session was a trick by the KPU.

"In my opinion, with the KPU chairman's statement saying goodbye, there were still five debates, but the presidential and vice presidential candidates were present at the same time, yes, I think this is a trick format that is being prepared, which is being prepared by the KPU, and we cannot accept that," said Todung.

Todung emphasized that the KPU could not change the format of the vice presidential debate except for the regulations of the Election Law and PKPU regarding the Election Campaign were also changed.

"The chairman of the KPU and KPU has no right to change the format of the debate. This format still has to be three times for the presidential candidate, twice for the vice president. If the chairman of the KPU and the KPU want to change that, yes, he must change the law," he said.

He said the people had the right to assess the capabilities and capabilities of the three vice presidential candidates participating in the 2024 General Election. According to Todung, the vice presidential candidates also need to prove to the public that their vision, commitment, ability, and readiness to become leaders are.

"The public is not stupid. The public knows that the vice presidential candidate is not just a 'ban serep'. The vice presidential candidate has a very strategic, important role; moreover, when it comes to the president being unable to carry out its functions," said Todung.

He said the people also have the right to know the skills of each vice presidential candidate so that when choosing it is not like buying a cat in a sack.

"If we don't give the people their rights, we will also be faced with a question, do we want to choose a cat in a sack? Yes, we should not choose a cat in a sack. We need to know transparently, in total, who is the presidential candidate, who is the vice presidential candidate, what is the vision, what is their commitment, what is their readiness, and that is what we must do," he said.

Previously, Hasyim Asy'ari said that all pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates participating in the 2024 presidential election must attend every debate session. "So that the public is more confident in their performance during the debate," said Hasyim after the 2024 Presidential-Cawapres Pair Debate Preparation Meeting at the KPU Office, Jakarta, Thursday. He said the formation was different from the 2019 presidential election debate, at which time not all pairs of candidates were present directly at the debate location.