The Popular Party (PP) has announced today that its president, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accepts the face-to-face with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, proposed by Mediaset, and suggests that this debate be held on November 16, according to the party's campaign director, Miguel Tellado, in a letter sent this morning to the different media groups.
In a statement, the PP maintains that the general election campaign offers a "fantastic opportunity to confront models between the Spain that is coming and the Spain that is leaving", and adds that, given the "impossibility" of attending the numerous requests for interviews and debates, it has chosen to accept two debates and an interview on RTVE.
Regarding Mediaset's proposal, the popular party recalls that in 2023 the first bilateral debate was held on the first Monday of the campaign and states that this formula suits them for this occasion, so they propose to set it for Monday, November 16.
Atresmedia and a debate with all candidates
The PP also accepts Atresmedia's invitation for a debate between the candidates of the main parties with parliamentary representation throughout the national territory. In this regard, Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party mentions the PP, the PSOE, Vox and "whoever presents themselves on behalf of the far left" and assumes, according to the text, the approaches of the different electoral formulas that have competed since 2015.
The conservative party proposes that this debate be held as close as possible to election day, that is, on November 26, three days before the general elections.
RTVE and the condition of in-house production
In addition, the PP assures that it will participate in a debate with the spokespersons of the political groups with parliamentary representation, a proposal that, it recalls, RTVE has put forward for Monday, November 23.
In relation to the interviews requested by public media and regulated by the Central Electoral Board (JEC), the party specifies that "the candidate will assess his attendance out of respect for the Corporation and its workers". However, Alberto Núñez Feijóo conditions his presence on the interview being held in an in-house production space and conducted by the "magnificent communication professionals" of the public entity, and not an external production company.
The statement adds that the leader of the PP maintains his criticism of the "undeniable partiality and submission to the interests of the RTVE management to the needs of the President of the Government", and stresses that the corporation "does not have executives thinking about the general interest".
The letter sent by Miguel Tellado
According to the party, the general secretary and campaign director, Miguel Tellado, has already conveyed this position to the different media groups through a letter sent this morning. The PP thus summarizes its willingness: if RTVE complies with the premise of in-house production with professionals from the entity, Feijóo will attend.