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.