KPU Asks Paslon To Reduce Walpri In Fourth Debate

KPU Commissioner August Mellaz answered reporters' questions after the last coordination meeting for the holding of the fourth debate for the 2024 presidential election at the KPU Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (17/1/2024). (ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.)

The KPU asked each pair of vice presidential and vice presidential candidates to reduce the number of personal guards (walpri) of those who accompanied during the fourth debate at JCC Senayan, Jakarta.

KPU commissioner August Mellaz said the policy was taken during a meeting reflecting on the experience of previous debates.

"Later we will try to arrange for personal guards, not all of them. So, some of them will go inside, we will also provide for holding rooms (intermediary rooms) for presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates. Because this is also the activity of the KPU, we are also coordinating with security forces, security forces as well, for example, sterilization of places of all kinds," August Mellaz said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 17.

He said it was possible that the number of personal bodyguards was reduced by half from what was at the previous debate event.

"About half of what has been there," he said.

Although there is a reduction in the number of personal guards, August said that the KPU has not changed the rules for the number of invited guests, including the number of successful teams participating in accompanying it.

"Appointment guests are relatively unchanged, in terms of capacity, the place is around 600 less, 580. However, it is clearly divided by the candidate pair team for the support team 75 (people) each," said August Mellaz.

Of the 75, it was divided into 35 people who sat right behind the candidate pair, while the other 40 sat across from the candidate pair.

The fourth debate of the KPU featuring three vice presidential candidates, namely Muhaimin Iskandar (cawapres number 1), Gibran Rakabuming Raka (cawapres number 2), and Mahfud Md. (cawapres number 3) raises issues, including natural resources, indigenous peoples, the environment, energy, and agrarian.