KPU Affirms That The Vice President Candidate Will Not Accompany The Stage During The Presidential Candidate Debate

KPU press conference (Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI)

Chairman of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari emphasized that there was no assistance by the vice presidential candidate (cawapres) during the 2024 presidential candidate debate (candidate) and vice versa. Thus, during the presidential candidate debate, the vice presidential candidate was only present in the debate area and sat in the audience with the coalition parties and supporters of their respective candidate pairs. This also applies during the vice presidential debate. "Because tomorrow is the presidential candidate debate, only the presidential candidate will appear on stage," said Hasyim at the Indonesian KPU office, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, Monday, December 11. In the 2024 presidential election, 5 presidential and vice presidential debates were held. The first, third, and fifth debates were specifically for presidential candidates. Meanwhile, the second and fourth debates were a special debate for vice presidential candidates. The KPU held its inaugural debate for the 2024 presidential election in the courtyard of the Indonesian KPU office, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta. The debate on Tuesday, December 12 is scheduled to take place starting at 19.00 WIB. The KPU prepared the inaugural debate venue with a circular design like a tribune in a football stadium. The capacity of the debate venue built in the KPU yard is a townhall model that can accommodate up to 800 people. The debate stage looks circular, with the audience sitting higher like a tribune in a football stadium. In each debate, the capacity of the invitation for each candidate team that can attend the debate is a maximum of 75 people. However, the number of these invitations is outside the presidential and vice-presidential candidates and the general chairman of the supporting party along with the secretary general. The theme of the inaugural debate which will be held tomorrow raises the theme of law and human rights, government, eradication of corruption, strengthening democracy, improving public services, and harmony of citizens. Meanwhile, the second debate held on Friday, December 22, 2023, raised the theme of the people's economy, digital economy, finance, investment, taxes, trade, management of the APBN/APBD, infrastructure, and urban areas. The third debate on Sunday, January 7, 2024, has the theme defense, security, international relations, and geopolitical relations. The fourth debate on Sunday, January 21, 2024, has the theme of sustainable development, natural resources (SDA), environmental, energy, food, agrarians for indigenous peoples and villages. Furthermore, the fifth or last debate was held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, which raised the theme of social welfare, culture, education, information technology, health, employment, human resources, and inclusion. In its implementation, the debate will last for 150 minutes. Especially the debate session lasted for 120 minutes, and the remaining 30 minutes of advertising shows. Debate is divided into six segments.

"The first segment of the opening, reading the rules, conveying vision and mission and work programs. The second and third segments deepen the vision and mission and work programs. There will be questions and interactions between the candidate pairs and other pairs of candidates," explained KPU RI Commissioner August Mellaz. "The fourth and fifth segments ask questions and responses. There will be a process of interaction, response, asking questions from the candidate pairs and responding by other pairs of candidates. The sixth segment is closing," added August.