Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto has reiterated the importance of maintaining Indonesia`s political and security stability ahead of the parliamentary presidential elections on April 17, 2019.

"The security and political stability should continue to be maintained, so that the country does not face a chaotic situation," he stated while addressing attendees to the National Counter-terrorism Agency`s working meeting here on Thursday.

Security stability is a primary condition for carrying out sustainable development and creating prosperity, so there is a need to respond to all security threats to maintain peace in the country, he remarked.

However, in a democratic country, political stability is also important. Hence, as part of the democratic instruments, if the political life is chaotic, the state too will become chaotic.

"In such a situation, the development programs cannot be implemented smoothly. Hence, we must maintain our political and security stability, as they have a close correlation," he emphasized.

The first round of the official debates of the two pairs of the Indonesian presidential and vice presidential candidates kicks off on Thursday evening.

Both the pairs of incumbent President Joko Widodo and his running mate, Ma`ruf Amin, and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno have been ready for their first round of debates, which focus on four main areas: law, human rights, corruption, and terrorism.

The General Election Commission (KPU) had announced a week ago that the rundown of the official debates of the two pairs of Indonesian presidential and vice presidential candidates had been completed.

According to KPU Chairman Arief Budiman, the rundown of the presidential and vice presidential debates comprises six segments, including delivering each pair`s vision and mission.

"We have decided on several things, including the rundown of the debates, debate outline, arrangement of tables and chairs, and the number of invitees," he noted, adding that in the first segment, each pair will deliver its vision and mission.

The second and third segments will cover responses to open questions, specifically the outlines of questions prepared by the panelists and submitted to the two pairs a week prior to the convening of the debate.

In the fourth and fifth segments, the two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates will raise questions and respond to queries posed in a debate format.

In the sixth segment, the KPU will request the pairs to make a closing statement, Budiman explained.

Reporting by Syaiful Hakim, Rahmad Nasution
Editing by Suharto

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019