"The media's duty is indeed to report on track records. Here you go, please choose one that you think is better," Hendry Ch. Bangun, PWI's chairperson, remarked in Jakarta on Thursday.
Bangun explained that candidates' track records provide valuable insights into their past performance, enabling voters to make informed decisions during elections.
"If we consider them to be qualified, we will support them," he added.
He urged that Indonesia's five-yearly democratic process should not exacerbate divisions among the populace.
"For us, the crucial aspect is that the contest is viewed as a routine event, one that does not need to escalate into division, fragmenting the nation, and fostering animosity among citizens," he emphasized.
The General Election Commission (KPU) has received registration documents from three presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairs: Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The Baswedan-Iskandar pair is supported by the National Democratic (NasDem) Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and the Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, the Pranowo-Mahfud pair has garnered the backing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
Subianto and Raka have secured the support of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the Party of the Functional Groups (Golkar), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democratic Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Indonesian People's Wave (Gelora) Party, the Garuda Party, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and the Just and Prosperous People's Party (PRIMA).
The KPU has determined that the campaign period for the upcoming elections will commence on November 28 and conclude on February 10 of next year, with the elections scheduled to take place on February 14, 2024.
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Translator: Narda Margaretha Sinambela, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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