It seems that the debates will take place. At least, it is confirmed by the headquarters of both candidates for the presidency in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky and Petro Poroshenko will meet at Olympic Stadium and will discuss the future of the country.
When and where debates will take place
There are two locations: the studio of Suspilne TV channel and Olympic Stadium. The negotiations lasted for a long time on how to combine these places or which one to choose. The date remained to be the same – April 19 (On April 4, the so-called “solo-debates” with participation of Petro Poroshenko took place at the stadium).
Initially, Poroshenko insisted that the debates in the studio should take place, according to the law. However, he did not refuse from the holding of the debates at the stadium.
Such things figured out after discussions, negotiations and few weeks of expectation:
-the main (and probably the only) place for debates is Olympic Stadium;
-headquarters of the candidates requested technical assistance of Suspilne TV. The issue is about a mobile TV station and experts for the organization of the broadcasting.
Suspilne TV channel also expects the decision of the Central Election Commission on order 472, which regulates the time of the beginning of the debates.
According to National TV Company’s Head Zurab Alasania, if the beginning of the debates is postponed for an hour (from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.), the company will implement this decision. It will allow to hold the debates at both locations, stadium and Suspilne TV channel.
-the headquarters agreed that the debates at the stadium will begin at 7 p.m.
Details of the forthcoming debates
According to Zurab Alasania, the teams of the candidates agreed on such points:
- set the rostrums across;
- avoid using parties’ symbols;
- make performances in turns;
- divide tickets in half and each distributes his tickets.
The headquarters did not agree on:
- the number of the questions – three or four;
- who will be the host;
- the number of outside broadcasting.
The negotiations on the issues continue. Moreover, the headquarters had to meet the representatives of the Central Election Commission on April 18.
Other details
Volodymyr Zelensky’s team stated about the beginning of the tickets’ distribution and reported that 12,000 tickets were booked up during less than half of the day.
The Interior Ministry of Ukraine announced which things cannot be taken to the Olympic Stadium. Weapon, knives, gas cartridges are on the list.
