Politics · Spain · 4 hrs ago
PSOE proposes TV Academy organize election debates with Sánchez and Feijóo
Spain’s PSOE has proposed the Television Academy host two election debates after it and the opposition PP failed to agree on broadcasters.
The debates would feature PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez and PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo in a head-to-head, and a four-way debate also involving Santiago Abascal and Ada Colau.
The dispute is over whether public broadcaster RTVE should host one of the debates; the PSOE accuses the PP of rejecting that option.
The PSOE says the Academy could provide a neutral signal that any broadcaster can air.
It also maintains that one debate should be organized by RTVE and the other by a private media group, so public and private broadcasters both take part.
The Academy organized debates in Spain’s 2015 and 2019 general elections.
The PP has not yet answered the proposal, as the election campaign is due to begin on Thursday.
Spain’s PSOE has proposed that the Television Academy organize two election debates involving Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
The party made the proposal on Monday amid a dispute with the PP over which broadcasters should host the debates.
The proposed encounters are a one-on-one debate and a four-way debate that would also include Santiago Abascal and Ada Colau.
The PSOE says the Academy would provide a neutral signal that any media outlet could broadcast.
The party still wants one debate organized by public broadcaster RTVE and another by a private media group.
- Who
- Spain’s PSOE proposed the plan; the debates would involve Pedro Sánchez, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Santiago Abascal and Ada Colau.
- What
- The PSOE proposed that the Television Academy organize a one-on-one debate and a four-way debate.
- When
- The proposal was made on Monday, three days before the election campaign was due to begin.
- Where
- The proposal concerns debates in Spain. A venue was not stated.
- Why
- The PSOE said the Academy could provide a neutral signal for media outlets to broadcast, amid a dispute over RTVE’s role.
PSOE
PP
Debate organizer
PSOE
The PSOE wants one debate organized by public broadcaster RTVE and another by a private media group; it proposed the Television Academy organize both if the PP maintains its refusal of RTVE.
PP
The PSOE says the PP has vetoed RTVE and refuses to let the public broadcaster organize one of the debates; the PP’s own position is not stated directly.
Debate format
PSOE
The PSOE says it is willing to debate on RTVE in either a one-on-one or a four-way format.
PP
The PSOE says it wants the PP to accept one of the two debate formats proposed by RTVE; the PP’s preferred format is not stated.
The Television Academy organized election debates in previous general elections.
The PSOE proposed that the Television Academy organize both debates if the PP continued to reject RTVE as an organizer.
The election campaign was due to begin.
The general election was scheduled to take place.
- Proposed organizer
- Television Academy
- Debate participants
- Pedro Sánchez, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Santiago Abascal and Ada Colau
- Debate formats
- One-on-one and four-way
- Proposal date
- Monday, November 9, 2026
- Election date
- November 29
What people are saying
If the PP maintains its veto on RTVE and refuses to allow the public broadcaster to organize one of the two proposed election debates between the candidates for the presidency, the PSOE formally proposes to all political parties and media groups that the Television Academy be the entity responsible for organizing both meetings
This formula guarantees a neutral and open signal so that all media outlets that wish to do so can broadcast freely
We consider it essential that one of the meetings take place in the public sphere and be organized by RTVE, while a second debate may be organized by one of the major private media groups