The invitation has been delivered to each of them and all three said okay
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin will host a lunch for the three vice presidential candidates — Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Mahfud MD, and Muhaimin Iskandar — at the Vice Presidential Palace on November 6, 2023.

"The Vice President will receive the three vice presidential candidates next Monday and will have lunch together at the Vice Presidential Palace here," spokesperson for the Vice President, Masduki Baidlowi, said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

The vice presidential candidates have received the invitation and have confirmed their attendance at the luncheon, he informed.

"The invitation has been delivered to each of them and all three said okay," he said.

The lunch was supposed to be scheduled at the same time as President Joko Widodo's lunch with the three presidential candidates at the Presidential Palace some time ago, he added.

Related news: Need to prevent extreme fatigue among election officers: VP

However, due to conflicting schedules, the lunch for the vice presidential candidates was postponed until next Monday.

Baidlowi said that the Vice President's aim for hosting the luncheon is to discuss efforts for realizing a peaceful election in 2024.

"(To ensure) that the competition is healthy. It is okay to compete but let's not create a division among people. How to compete and carry out democracy peacefully," he added.

Earlier, Amin said that he would invite them to discuss efforts to reduce conflicts during the election period as the behavior of supporters would depend on the election candidates.

"How the presidential and vice presidential candidates, the backing parties, and the winning teams act, influence the supporters. If can, the tension needs to cool down so our election is peaceful and does not cause problems," he added.

Related news: VP Amin to invite vice presidential candidates to lunch, discussion

Translator: Rangga J, Kenzu
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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