TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Both Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto’s supporters agreed to drop any campaign materials that are deemed irrelevant for the 2019 presidential election campaign. Both camps agreed to run a mature campaign that promotes each presidential hopeful’s programs.

Prabowo – Sandiaga campaign team leader Eddy Soeparno said that his camp will avoid using campaign materials that are waterlogged with symbolism and metaphors. He agreed that the current campaign material has reduced public’s empathy toward presidential hopefuls.

“If we don’t acknowledge issues arising among the public, we are afraid that people’s apathy would grow even stronger,” said Eddy to Tempo when we reached him yesterday.

Furthermore, Eddy maintained that the people have been apathetic in the wake of the 2019 presidential election which could potentially lead to a low participation rate. He said that the Prabowo camp plans to hold factual academic-based discussions to discuss economic issues.

Meanwhile, the Jokowi – Ma’ruf Amin campaign team manager Maman Imanulhaq said that his team has already prepared the materials needed to promote the programs that their presidential and vice presidential hopefuls would implement in the future.

Jokowi’s camp, which will focus on infrastructure and economic development, women and child protection, and creating more job opportunities.

“Both camps should talk more constructively,” said Maman.

Meanwhile, Jokowi`s campaign team spokesman Ace Hasan Syadzily said that they were forced to postpone their strategy upon program-based discussion because they had to clarify several statements from the Prabowo camp.

ARKHELAUS WISNU TRIYOGO