Una ley obligará por primera vez en democracia a hacer al menos un debate en la pública en cada elección | España | EL PAÍS

New Law Mandates Electoral Debates in Spain

Spain's Council of Ministers proposed a law making televised electoral debates mandatory for all elections (national and regional) on public channels. This aims to end the recurring issue of debates not occurring, or only involving selected candidates.

Key Provisions of the Law

• At least one debate on public channels is mandated for all electoral campaigns.
• All candidates from parties with prior representation must participate, with exceptions requiring justification from the Electoral Board.
• The law defines participation criteria for other significant political groups, promoting inclusivity.
• Private channels are not obligated, but must adhere to principles of pluralism, neutrality, equality, and proportionality if they hold debates.

The move aims to increase transparency and end the history of campaign strategies focused on avoiding or manipulating the debate process. This includes controversial past decisions like Mariano Rajoy sending his deputy in 2015, or Alberto Núñez Feijóo's absence in the July 2023 debate.

Microdata Publication

The proposed law also mandates the publication of anonymized microdata from polling companies, enhancing transparency and allowing verification of results. Currently, only 40dB and the CIS (Center for Sociological Research) follow this practice.