First, the candidates need to share their views on how to enforce international laws to resolve issues, such as the South China Sea and Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Arfin Sudirman stated here on Tuesday.
Second, the candidates need to share their perspectives on Indonesia's foreign policy regarding the country's central role as a peace broker for solving inter-ASEAN regional problems, such as Myanmar, he elaborated.
Third, the candidates should express their views on Indonesia's contribution to global conflict resolution through the United Nations' mandate by participating in the UN peacekeeping forces, he explained.
Fourth, in having a safe, peaceful, and stable South China Sea, the candidates are also required to share their views on how to strengthen ASEAN's centrality and collectiveness in the South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC), he stated.
Fifth, the candidates must shed light on how Indonesia benefits from the three pillars of ASEAN for its national interest, while the sixth issue is delving into ways to implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific to reduce regional tensions due to the US-China rivalry.
They also need to share their views on how to strengthen Indonesia's position and existence in multilateral diplomatic fora and in international organizations, such as the United Nations, to enable it to manage the world order in accordance with its national interest.
Eighth, regarding the Asia Africa Conference, Sudirman suggested that Anies, Prabowo, and Ganjar share their perspectives on how to optimize the 1955 Bandung Conference for Indonesia's national interest.
"Ninth, issues related to international cooperation on Sustainable Development Goals, and 10th, issues related to Indonesia's mitigation politically, militarily, and economically if big wars were to occur in the future," he remarked.
Sudirman stated that the three presidential candidates are expected to be able to identify the strengths and opportunities that Indonesia has in carrying out its diplomacy despite the fact that characteristics of its national interest and foreign policy remain relatively unchanged since the New Order era.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) decided that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously on February 14, 2024.
The commission has officially set a 75-day election campaign period for the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates from November 28 this year to February 10 next year.
All participating political parties and presidential contenders have pledged to conduct peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections.
As part of its efforts to make voters well aware of the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates' political pledges, it holds five rounds of debate ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election.
The first and second rounds were held on December 12 and December 22, 2023, while the third and fourth rounds will take place on January 7 and January 21, 2024, and the fifth round will be held on February 4, 2024.
The presidential candidates are challenged to respond to defense, security, international, and geopolitical issues during their third round of debate on January 7, 2024.
Three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates contesting in the presidential election are Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.
Baswedan and Iskandar have been nominated with the support of the NasDem Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, Subianto and Raka have the backing of the Gerindra Party and a coalition of parties, including Golkar, National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, and Gelora Party.
Pranowo and Mahfud have the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), United Development Party, Perindo Party, and Hanura Party.
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Translator: Rio F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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