Ihsan Reliubun Antara, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Hasyim Asyari confirmed that there will be five election debates for presidential and vice presidential candidates. Three debates are allocated for presidential candidates, and the rest two are for vice presidential candidates.

The first debate is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12, and will feature three presidential candidates. The second debate will be for vice presidential candidates on Dec. 22. The third debate is for presidential candidates on Jan. 7, 2024. The fourth debate is set for Jan. 14 for vice presidential candidates, while the final debate will be for presidential candidates on Feb. 4.

"[Topics of] the first debate cover issues of government, law, human rights, eradicating corruption, strengthening democracy, and improving public services and citizen harmony," Hasyim said at the KPU office, on Wednesday evening, December 6.

In the second debate, vice presidential candidates will debate over the issues of the economy including the people's economy and digital economy, finance, investment, taxes, trade, management of the state budget or regional budget, infrastructure, and urban areas.

The third debate will feature the presidential candidates debating over the issues of defense, security, international relations, and geopolitics. The fourth debate for the vice presidential candidates will be on sustainable development, natural resources, the environment, energy, food, agrarian affairs, society, and villages.

The final topics for the presidential candidates' debate include social welfare, culture, education, information technology, health, employment, human resources, and inclusion.

Hasyim said each debate will be moderated by one male and one female moderator who are considered competent in the respective topics. The KPU had prepared a list of the debate panelists. However, the election agency allowed each campaign team to propose names until Friday, Dec. 8.

The presidential and vice presidential debates ahead of the 2024 election in February will be held at the KPU building in Jakarta and broadcast live on national television channels. Hasyim also said that the KPU will invite 50 people from each candidate team to attend the debate.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1806322/kpu-announces-format-and-topics-of-presidential-election-debat