Rules drawn up for presidential debate

Rules drawn up for presidential debate

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) is currently drafting
guidelines for the presidential debates ahead of the July 5
election, commission member Anas Urbaningrum said.

"We are just regulating (the debates), but (we're) not
organizing them. We invite the public to suggest possible forms
the debates could take," Anas, who heads the KPU's presidential
election committee, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

However, Anas admitted the presidential candidates would not
be obliged to take part in debates and could refuse to attend.

"There are no penalties (put on candidates who refuse to join
presidential debates) as debates are just one of many forms of
campaigning," Anas said.

Several political analysts have called for public debates
among presidential candidates before the elections to allow
voters to better scrutinize and choose leaders.

Anas said presidential debates could be an important medium
for presidential and vice presidential candidates to introduce
their programs and politically educate the public.

Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) executive director Smita
Notosusanto welcomed the KPU's plan to issue guidelines for
public presidential debates.

"It's good for both the candidates and the public. Even in our
neighboring countries, presidential debates have been conducted,"
Smita said.

She suggested presidential debates were conducted twice during
the presidential campaign and aired live on all television
stations.

She said chief editors of electronic and printed media and
prominent public leaders could be invited to deliver questions to
candidates during the debates.

"General questions could be prepared earlier in order for the
candidates to prepare their answers in detail according to their
party's programs," she said.

Smita said the first debate could discuss economic and social
issues, while in the second could cover legal and political
topics.

Audience members or viewers should also be allowed to put
questions to the candidates and be asked for their opinions and
evaluations of the candidates at the end.

"People or viewers can express whether they agree or disagree
with the candidates. It's like polling the candidates," she said.

Four candidates have made public their desire to run in the
presidential elections -- President Megawati Soekarnoputri of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P); Gen. (ret)
Wiranto of the Golkar Party; Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
of the Democratic Party; and Amien Rais of the National Mandate
Party (PAN).

Abdurrahman Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB) has
announced his presidential ambition but is likely to fail a KPU-
sanctioned health test. A coalition of Muslim-based political
parties is also planning to announce its presidential candidate
on Monday.

Megawati has named Nahdlatul Ulama leader Hasyim Muzadi as her
running mate, while Susilo has picked former coordinating
minister for the people's welfare Jusuf Kalla as his vice
presidential candidate.

Wiranto is said to be trying to recruit National Commission on
Human Rights (Komnas HAM) second in command Solahuddin Wahid as
his deputy, while Amien has named former transmigration minister
Siswono Yudhohusodo.

Indonesia's first-ever direct presidential election will be
participated in by parties or coalitions with 3 percent of the
seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) or 5 percent of the
votes in the April 5 legislative election. The campaign period
runs from June 1 through to June 30.