Setting the conditions and content of the debates by the candidates is contrary to the law. No candidate can dictate how many rounds a debate should have, how long the debate should last, or what topics should be discussed. The media institutions comply only with the law and professional ethics in organizing the debate, the Press Council said in a statement, asking the candidates to stop interfering in the activity of the media.
According to the Press Council, electoral debates are organized by media institutions in compliance with the law and journalistic professional ethics, and any interference in media activity and editorial policy are contrary to the law, are undemocratic and must be stopped.
The Press Council requests the candidates to accept the invitation of the public television channel Moldova 1 and to conduct the electoral debate on this national platform, in accordance with the law and with respect for the country's population. Naturally, the debate will be moderated by a journalist of the public company Teleradio Moldova, who can also accept the contribution of professional journalists.
The Press Council also proposes journalists who can contribute to the electoral debate ahead of the runoff election, including: Lorena Bogza, Anatolie Golea, Lilia Buracovschi, Mădălin Necșuțu, Liuba Shevchuk, Vitalie Cojocari.
Likewise, the Press Council reiterates that the nomination by the challengers of concrete candidates for the position of moderator of the debate, especially a discredited moderator who has not shown integrity and professionalism in his career, represents lack of respect for the public and an attempt to undermine the debate as a democratic exercise.
After the presidential election, the two election contestants invited each other to electoral debates. The apple of discord was the moderator. Alexandr Stoianoglo's team proposed journalist Gheorghe Gonța. Even if the PAS team accepted him initially, it later changed its mind following controversy on the issue.
Maia Sandu's team announced that it accepts debates with any moderator, but this must be agreed by the Council and coordinated with the opponent. In reply, Alexandr Stoianoglo insisted on his initial proposal that two moderators, Gheorghe Gonța and another one nominated by the opponent's team, participate in the debate.
In addition to Maia Sandu's message, the representative of the candidate's electoral staff Adrian Băluțel said that Maia Sandu also accepted the invitation of Moldova 1 and the Press Council to take part in the debate that will be organized on the national television channel next Monday.
In the end, Maia Sandu invited her opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo to an electoral debate without a moderator at the Palace of the Republic next Monday.
