Politics · Spain · 11 hrs ago
Sánchez and Feijóo agree to a debate as parties dispute TV venue
Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Núñez Feijóo agreed to a face-to-face debate on 16 November, during Spain’s election campaign.
The PSOE also accepted a four-party debate on 26 November with candidates from the PP, Vox and Frente Amplio.
The parties disagree over where that debate should be held: the PSOE wants public broadcaster RTVE, while the PP wants Atresmedia.
The PP had proposed holding both debates on private networks, including a face-to-face on Mediaset.
The PSOE says it will take part in the face-to-face only if the four-party debate also goes ahead.
It argues that public television should be included in election debates and has asked broadcasters to share the signal openly.
The venue dispute remains unresolved, and the parties have not announced a final agreement.
Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE has accepted a head-to-head debate with Alberto Núñez Feijóo on 16 November, but the parties disagree over the venue for a four-way debate.
The PSOE wants the debate with the four main candidates on 26 November to take place on public broadcaster RTVE.
The PP rejects RTVE and says the four-way debate should be held on Atresmedia.
The PSOE says both debates must take place and has urged media groups to agree to broadcast the signal across all channels.
The 26 November debate date coincides with an extraordinary European Council meeting scheduled for 26 and 27 November.
- Who
- Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE and Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s PP, along with candidates from Vox and Frente Amplio for the four-way debate.
- What
- They have agreed to a head-to-head debate, but dispute whether a four-way debate should be held on RTVE or Atresmedia.
- When
- The head-to-head is scheduled for 16 November 2026 and the four-way debate for 26 November 2026.
- Where
- The head-to-head is to be held on a private channel; the proposed venues for the four-way debate are RTVE and Atresmedia.
- Why
- The PSOE says public television must not be excluded from election debates; the PP objects to holding the four-way debate on RTVE.
PSOE
PP
Four-way debate venue
PSOE
The debate should be held on public broadcaster RTVE.
PP
The debate should not be held on RTVE; the PP says it should take place on Atresmedia.
Debate arrangements
PSOE
Both the 16 November head-to-head and the 26 November four-way debate must take place.
PP
The PP says the debates will be on 16 November on Mediaset and on 26 November on the channel where Sánchez debated three years earlier.
A head-to-head debate between Sánchez and Feijóo is scheduled to take place on a private channel.
The proposed four-way debate is scheduled for this date, with the PSOE seeking RTVE and the PP insisting on Atresmedia.
An extraordinary European Council meeting is scheduled in Brussels, coinciding with the proposed four-way debate.
- Head-to-head debate
- 16 November 2026
- Four-way debate
- 26 November 2026
- PSOE's proposed venue
- RTVE
- PP's proposed venue
- Atresmedia
- Candidates in four-way debate
- PSOE, PP, Vox and Frente Amplio
- General election date
- 29 November 2026
4 sources
Sánchez acepta un "cara a cara" con Feijóo y el PP rechaza que el debate a cuatro sea en RTVE
Sánchez acepta un 'cara a cara' con Feijóo el 16 de noviembre y un debate a cuatro el 26, pero exige que sea en RTVE y el PP lo rechaza
El PP rechaza un debate a cuatro en RTVE que el PSOE pone como condición para un cara a cara en Mediaset
El PP rechaza que el debate a cuatro sea en RTVE como pide el PSOE, pero habrá 'cara a cara' en una privada el 16 de noviembre
What people are saying
It is indispensable that both meetings take place.
The mission of public service entrusted to Radio Televisión Española by the Constitution and the laws has one of its most essential and protective expressions in election debates.
There will be no four-way debate on RTVE.