Greek Party Leaders’ Debate Set for May 10

Government spokesman Akis Skertsos on Saturday confirmed the date of the televised debate of the Greek party leaders to take place ahead of the May 21 general election.

The anticipated debate has been scheduled for 9.00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10.

It will be held at the premises of the public broadcaster, ERT, and will be broadcast on another six nationwide TV stations.

ERT journalist Giorgos Kouvaras will serve as moderator.

“This is where all questions relating to the government’s work and the stances of all other parties will be answered,” Skertsos commented.

Second debate between PM and Opposition leader rejected

Opposition leader and former PM Alexis Tsipras of SYRIZA, had been pushing for a televised debate with PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis for months.

Although the Interior Ministry’s interparty committee on elections agreed for a debate among all party leaders, SYRIZA’s request for a second debate between Mitsotakis and Tsipras was rejected.

Speaking after the end of the committee’s meeting on Saturday, Skertsos stated that all opposition parties had outright rejected a second debate between ruling New Democracy and main opposition SYRIZA, as proposed by the latter, for reasons of parity, AMNA reports.

“We are seeking comparison, not a clash, and civilized political talk without acrimony and exclusions,” Skertsos said.

“With equality, respect of a parliamentary democracy’s rules, so that it becomes obvious where we were in 2019, where we are in 2023, and which party provides a program proposal [for Greece] to move further and jump ahead,” he added.

Greek political leaders’ televised debate details

Questions during the May 10 debate can be submited by journalists who work on nationwide TV networks.

According to AMNA, the five themes that the political leaders will debate on are; a) economy, development and jobs, b) foreign policy and defense, c) state, institutions and transparency, d) health, education and the social state, and e) environment and energy.

At the end of all questions, political leaders will be able to speak on their party’s stance in additional comments.

Second round of election likely

The Greek Parliament dissolved on April 22, one month ahead of the general elections scheduled for Sunday, May 21.

As stated by PM Mitsotakis in March, if the first round of voting is inconclusive and a government is not formed, the second round will take place by early July at the latest.

Following a change to the electoral law introduced by Tsipras, the May general election will take place under a full proportional representation system which makes it almost impossible to have a one-party government, making a second round of voting likely, in the event that political parties will not be able to form a coalition government.