Election debates do not allow a televised link-up, which can be done only “in a freer communication format after the debates are over,” the head of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, Zurab Alasania, said.
“The national televised debates will be held from 8 p.m. till 9 p.m. on April 19 even if either of them is a no-show. If either of them comes here, he will get the air time, speak for the entire hour alone, and use the air time for campaigning,” Alasania told the online media outlet Ukrayinska Pravda on Thursday.
He also said on Facebook that if both candidates showed up, the debates “will strictly comply with the format, which is prescribed minute-by-minute by Central Election Commission Resolution No. 742.”
“If neither candidate arrives, the hour will be used to air a documentary titled ‘Amsterdam’ from the cycle ‘Remarkable Cities of the World’, and there will be a creeping line saying, ‘Sorry, Ukrainian presidential candidates (first, middle, and last name) have not appeared in the studio for televised debates’,” Alasania said.
After the debates are over, the law prohibits a candidate or his program from being mentioned on the air for 20 minutes, he said. After that, the broadcaster will air another program involving experts and journalists, who will engage in a discussion with presidential candidates.
“There will be feedback, Petro Poroshenko will be there, and [Volodymyr Zelenskiy] can join them in a televised link-up, although he should make a personal appearance. But if he chooses so, that’s okay, he may,” Alasania said.
