While the second Jakarta gubernatorial debate on January 27 was fun (and, at times, informative) to watch, a common complaint about it was the absence of Ira Koesno as the debate’s moderator.
In the first debate on January 13, the former newscaster won praise for sternly disciplining the participants and the audience. Many said her replacements for the second debate, former newscaster Tina Talisa and former deputy administrative reform minister Eko Prasojo, lacked Ira’s iron fist.
The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD DKI Jakarta) said some netizens are now calling to bring back Ira as moderator of the third debate, which is due to take place on February 10.
“Yes, later they said they will bring a petition to KPUD about Ira Koesno. They’re saying, ‘bring Ira Koesno back’,” said KPUD Jakarta chairman Sumarno, as quoted by Okezone yesterday.
Sadly for the petitioners, Sumarno said that, according to the rules, no one person can moderate more than one debate, thus dashing any hopes for Ira’s return.
That said, KPUD acknowledged the public’s wish to have sterner moderators for the next debate and said they would take that into strong consideration. The third debate, like the second debate, will also feature two moderators, though the KPUD have not yet disclosed who they will be.
Following the third debate, Jakartans will go to the polls to pick their governor and vice governor on February 15.
