The PP maintains its commitment to a one-on-one debate between Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Núñez Feijóo on Mediaset and a four-way debate on Atresmedia, while the PSOE insists on moving that second format to RTVE and the blockage remains open. The discrepancy leaves the closing of the electoral calendar up in the air and, for now, also the confirmation of the presence of the President of the Government in the duel on November 16.
Sources from the Popular Party maintain that "our proposal is what it is and we will not move", and add that the PSOE has not yet confirmed whether Sánchez will attend the debate scheduled on Telecinco. According to Génova, that point is key to closing the format, times, and blocks of the meeting.
The struggle between private and public television remains unresolved
The proposal on the table contemplated three debates: the one-on-one on Mediaset, a meeting between spokespersons of the parliamentary groups on RTVE on November 23, and a four-way debate on Atresmedia on the 26th. The socialists, however, want that last format —along with the leaders of Vox and Frente Amplio— to be held on the public channel.
In the PSOE they maintain that they have not changed their position and that the debates are negotiated in a single package. From the Government's environment they defend that there must be a debate on the public entity and another on a private channel, a formula that, according to their version, explains the current blockage.
Feijóo, for his part, has already publicly assured that he will attend the four-way debate organized by Atresmedia, for which November 26 has been proposed as the date, four days before the general elections. The leader of the PP defended that he likes to "keep commitments", although that statement alone does not definitively close the final fit of the format.
The PP moves its calendar while waiting for the PSOE's response
According to popular sources, the party's general secretary, Miguel Tellado, has sent a letter to both media companies to confirm Feijóo's attendance at both the one-on-one on November 16 and the four-way debate on the 26th. Tellado also explained this Thursday, before a rally in Alcobendas, that he was coming from a meeting at Mediaset.
In Genoa, they insist that the date reserved for the duel between Sánchez and Feijóo is the 16th and that, if it finally does not take place, Mediaset would host an interview with Feijóo in prime time, according to sources from the popular candidate's team. At the same time, the PP opens the door to moving the date of the four-way debate if Sánchez had to attend a meeting of the European Council, although Moncloa has not yet confirmed whether the president will travel to that summit.
In addition to that main pulse, the PP has confirmed its participation in other debates without Feijóo. The Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Infrastructure and Housing will intervene on Friday, November 13, in a debate on housing and economy organized by La Sexta, along with the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo; Minister Pablo Bustinduy, for Frente Amplio; and Deputy José María Figaredo, from Vox.
Another face-to-face debate on housing on Cadena Ser for November 18 is also closed, where Juan Bravo, for the PP, and Isabel Rodríguez, Minister of Housing, will face each other. For now, that calendar remains pending for the parties to finalize the main format and clarify whether the clash between Sánchez and Feijóo will end up being held on a private or public television channel.
Contact