Jakarta – A senior member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has rejected a proposal from a Gerindra Party member that the upcoming presidential debates, organized by the General Elections Commission (KPU), should be held partially in English.
Gerindra Party politician Andre Rosiade, in apparent dig at PDI-P presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, who has opted to speak Indonesian while addressing foreign audiences, proposed that some sections of the presidential debates should be conducted in English.
PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said all political parties should honor one of key pledges made by Indonesia's founding fathers in 1928: that the country's national language would be Indonesian.
"We have the Youth Pledge. They may have forgotten about the Youth Pledge," Hasto said, as quoted by Antara.
Hasto said the use of the Indonesian language was a basic national precept and that the country should not allow other nations' cultures or languages to replace its own.
"We should not change our own culture and forget our true identity," Hasto said.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Andre proposed the use of English in the upcoming presidential debates to test presidential candidates' skills at international diplomacy.
Of the three presidential candidates, only Ganjar has appeared to avoid the use of English, even when addressing foreign nationals.
In a foreign policy debate in November organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Ganjar repeatedly responded in Indonesian to questions posed by foreign envoys.