Poll commission completes drawing up campaign rules<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) finalized on Wednesday a
\nnew regulation on media campaigns ahead of the runoff, which
\nallocates 35 minutes of airtime a day for each candidate during
\nthe three-day campaign period.<\/p>\n
The regulation was the result of protracted negotiations with
\nthe campaign teams of the two candidates. It will be incorporated
\ninto the commission's Ruling No. 35\/2003 on the presidential
\nelection campaign.<\/p>\n
According to the regulation, during the campaign period each
\ncandidate will be granted 20 minutes daily to run advertisements
\non private television stations, regardless of the frequency of
\nthe ads.<\/p>\n
The campaign team of Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running
\nmate Hasyim Muzadi had earlier proposed that the ads be aired no
\nmore than five times per day and last for no more than 60 seconds
\neach. The Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla pairing demanded
\nthat the KPU allow campaign ads to be 90-seconds long and
\nbroadcast 10 times a day.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want to set a limit on what candidates have to say
\nabout their platforms. So, they can use the 20-minute period as
\nthey wish. Conceivably, the candidates could divide it into as
\nmany spots as possible,\" KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said
\nhere.<\/p>\n
He said, while the candidates would be responsible for
\nfinancing their own ads, the KPU would also provide them with
\nsome free airtime.<\/p>\n
Under the new regulation, the two candidates would be given up
\nto 15 minutes of free airtime to deliver their speeches on state-
\nrun and private radio and television stations between 6 a.m. and
\n6 p.m..<\/p>\n
\"We have called on all radio and television stations to
\nbroadcast their recorded speeches, as they will be considered
\npublic service announcements,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
In a country where reading is not the primary means of getting
\ninformation, television is considered the most effective way to
\nreach the bulk of voters.<\/p>\n
Given the paramount role of the media, independent media
\nwatchdogs earlier called on the KPU to draw up a clear-cut
\nregulation that would sanction campaigning in the media ahead of
\nthe runoff.<\/p>\n
As for print media campaigns, the new regulation stipulates
\nthat candidates are allowed no more than half a page per day.<\/p>\n
\"The ads will not be printed side by side, as previously
\nproposed,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
The KPU had intended that, for the sake of equality, the
\ncandidates' ads and announcements would be run on the same page,
\nor one after the other.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, however, the public will not have the
\nchance to see the Megawati-Hasyim and Susilo-Kalla tickets engage
\nin a direct debate. Instead, the KPU will host a dialog in which
\n-- one at a time -- the two candidates will face a board of
\npanelists.<\/p>\n
\"We established early on that there would be no presidential
\ndebates during the three-day campaign period. It has been crystal
\nclear. The only thing that is not certain is whether the campaign
\nteams will accept the panelists,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poll-commission-completes-drawing-up-campaign-rules-1447893297",
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