Susilo dares Megawati to a face-off
Susilo dares Megawati to a face-off
M. Taufiqurrahman and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Sounding confident that he could outshine the incumbent, Megawati
Soekarnoputri, in a debate face-off, presidential candidate
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono challenged Megawati on Monday to
confront him in a General Elections Commission (KPU)-sponsored
dialog.
Susilo said that to facilitate the debate, the KPU should set
up a stage where he and Megawati could communicate openly with
the public.
"Rather than spending much time straying from the objectives
of delving more into our political platforms, we hope that the
KPU can set up a forum where the President and I can communicate
with the public in the broadest possible sense," he said after a
meeting with women activists here.
Susilo denied, however, that he would take unfair advantage in
the debate against Megawati, who is considered to lack
communication skills.
"We don't have to see it in black-and-white terms. In the
debate we could be in one forum where we could resolve the myriad
problems this country is currently facing," he said.
The KPU has ruled that in the three-day campaign for the
runoff, no debates will be held between the Megawati-Hasyim
Muzadi and Susilo-Jusuf Kalla camps.
The commission said that candidates would face a board of
panelists in a staged discussion. Candidates would appear
according to a predetermined schedule.
The two candidates and their running mates are to make their
first appearances on Sept. 14 to speak at length about their
programs on political, legal and human rights issues. The
following day, they are to speak on economics policies and social
welfare issues, while the last day of campaigning will focus on
social, cultural and religious issues.
Responding to Susilo's call, KPU deputy chairman Ramlan
Surbakti said that the commission could stage a debate only if
the Megawati-Hasyim camp agreed to participate.
"In the last three meetings the Megawati-Hasyim team balked at
the idea of a direct debate. We cannot hold a debate if only one
side is willing," Ramlan said.
He added that the KPU could not force candidates to take part
in a debate, as that was not stipulated in Law No. 35/2003 on
direct presidential elections.
Ramlan said that Megawati was willing to face the presidential
candidate nominated by the National Mandate Party, Amien Rais, in
the first presidential debate only after the campaign teams of
all contestants had agreed to participate in the KPU-brokered
dialog.
"In the first round, it would have appeared foolish if
Megawati had failed to attend the debate, while the other four
candidates were willing to put in an appearance. It would have
put her in very uncomfortable position," he said.
He added that the Megawati-Hasyim camp now had the luxury of
turning down the debate invitation, as the pair was the only
contender pitted against the Susilo-Kalla ticket.
Ramlan, however, said that the possibility of Megawati and
Susilo sharing the same stage in a presidential debate was still
open, if the Megawati-Hasyim campaign team made a last-minute
change to its campaign strategy and agreed to participate in a
dialog.
Contacted separately, Megawati-Hasyim campaign team member
Pramono Anung said that Megawati was simply complying with the
rule that no presidential debate would be held in the runoff
election.
"Ibu Megawati is merely playing by the rules issued by the
KPU," he said.