Independent candidate for President Igor Dodon proposes that an electoral debate should be held on the public TV channel, while another debate should be staged on neutral ground, for example at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM). The candidate’s press service said the proposal was formulated after Igor Dodon received tens of invitations to TV and radio debates for the runoff vote, given that he will be unable to accept all of them, IPN reports.

“We come up with proposals to ensure the organization of debates that would cover a larger audience and would simultaneously respect the right of all the media outlets to broadcast these debates. Thus, our proposal is to hold a debate on the public TV channel that is a broadcaster with national coverage and reaches the homes of most of the Moldovans across the country,” says the press release.

To enable the private TV channels to take part in such a debate, the staff of candidate Igor Dodon suggested organizing the second debate on neutral ground, for instance, at the ASEM. This way, any media outlet, either TV or radio station or online publication, will be able to broadcast the debates live.

“It should be noted that both of the candidates are graduates of this higher education institution and this will be also a symbolical place for debates. Two independent analysts could be invited to moderate the debates, a speaker of the official language and a speaker of Russian, so as to ensure a balance in the organization of debates from this angle too.”

Contacted by IPN, the press service of the Party of Action and Solidarity said they will provide a response to Igor Dodon’s invitation in a news conference later today.