"You do not need to worry about these restrictions. If there is any, we are ready to work this out together with the media," said Ahmad Thohir, an expert staff member of Bawaslu, during a media consolidation meeting in Jakarta on Friday.
He stated that based on the election regulation, during the quiet period, print mass media, online media, social media, and broadcasting institutions will be prohibited from broadcasting news, advertisements, track records, or other forms that promote or denounce candidates.
Thohir said that his agency will work with the media to uphold press freedom, as stated in Law Number 40 of 1999, which says that press freedom is a form of population sovereignty based on the principles of democracy, justice, and the supremacy of law.
He said that the consolidation aimed to equalize perceptions between the media and curb one-sided reporting.
"The article highlighted media reporting or publication that is directed at the campaign of a particular candidate pair or election participant," he explained.
He emphasized that Bawaslu will allow the media to report on the election process.
"We have to share a common understanding that the election organizer will not limit media space in reporting," Thohir emphasized.
He then expressed hope that, through the latest consolidation, his agency would work with the media to mobilize community participation as well as help socialize Bawaslu's program.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has determined three pairs of presidential-vice presidential candidates: Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.
The KPU has set the campaigning period from November 28, 2023, to February 10, followed by the quiet period from February 11 to 13. Voting will take place on February 14.
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Translator: Luthfia Miranda P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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