List of 11 Panelists for the First 2024 Presidential Election Debate: Academics Predominate

The Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced 11 panelists for the first presidential and vice-presidential candidate debate, scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the KPU office in Jakarta.

KPU Commissioner August Mellaz stated that the selected panelists are competent in their respective fields. "We have received confirmation from those who will be panelists for the first debate," August said at the KPU office, as reported by *Katadata* on Saturday, December 9, 2023.

Of the 11 panelists appointed by the KPU, 10 are academics from various state universities across Indonesia.

The following is a list of the panelists for the first presidential and vice-presidential debate in the 2024 Presidential Election who are academics:

* Mada Sukmajati (Political Science Expert, Gadjah Mada University)
* Rudi Rohi Ahli (Political Science Expert, Nusa Cendana University)
* Lita Tyesta (State Law Expert, Diponegoro University)
* Khairul Fahmi (Law Expert, Andalas University)
* Agus Riewanto (State Law Expert, Sebelas Maret University)
* Susi Dwi Harijanti (State Law Expert, Padjadjaran University)
* Bayu Dwi Anggono (Professor, Jember University)
* Al Makin (Professor of Religious Studies, State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga)
* Gun Gun Heryanto (Lecturer, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah)
* Wawan Mas'udi (Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gadjah Mada University)

The only non-academic panelist is Ahmad Taufan Damanik, former Chairperson of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) from 2017-2022.

August stated that all panelists have been in quarantine since Sunday, December 10, 2023, until the day of the first 2024 Presidential Election debate. During quarantine, the panelists formulated the questions to be posed to the candidate pairs.

The presidential and vice-presidential debates for the 2024 Presidential Election will be held during the 2024 General Election campaign period, from November 28, 2023, to February 10, 2024.

The first debate's themes will include governance, law, human rights, corruption eradication, strengthening democracy, improving public services, and citizen harmony.

(See also: KPU Will Hold 5 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates)