Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Zulkifli Hasan informed that vice presidential candidate number 2 Gibran Rakabuming Raka has not made any special preparations for the final vice presidential debate, scheduled on January 21, 2024.

In the debate, Gibran and his rivals, Muhaimin Iskandar and Mahfud Md, will focus on sustainable development, natural resources, environment, energy, food, customary law communities, and villages.

"There is no special preparation (for Gibran)," Hasan, who is currently serving as Indonesia's trade minister, told journalists at the Presidential Palace, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.

Gibran is ready for the debate, which will take place at the Jakarta Convention Center on Sunday evening, he said.

Gibran, Muhaimin, and Mahfud participated in the first debate round on December 22, 2023, during which they raised several issues related to finance, the people's economy, digital economy, infrastructure, trade and investment, as well as the state budget.

ANTARA reported earlier that the General Elections Commission (KPU) has informed that a total of 204,807,222 voters have been registered on the final voter list for the 2024 General Elections.

The KPU also announced that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously across Indonesia on February 14.

The commission has officially set a 75-day election campaign period for the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: from November 28, 2023, to February 10, 2024.

All participating political parties and presidential contenders have pledged to conduct peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections.

As part of efforts to make voters aware of the three candidate pairs' political pledges, the commission has decided to organize five rounds of debates ahead of the presidential elections.

The first and second rounds were held on December 12 and December 22, 2023. The third round took place on January 7, 2024, while the fourth and fifth rounds will be held on January 21 and February 4, respectively.

The three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates contesting the presidential election are Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.

Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar have been nominated with the support of the NasDem Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.

Meanwhile, Prabowo and Gibran have the backing of the Gerindra Party and a coalition of parties, including Golkar, National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, and Gelora Party.

Ganjar 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: Rangga, Yashinta, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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