The full content of the statement is below:
TVN, TVN24, ONET and WP invited staffs of presidential candidates for joint debate. We believed that such an independent debate, broadcast in traditional and online media, would help millions of our viewers and users make an informed and responsible decision in the second round of presidential elections.
We have done everything to ensure that the planned debate is as democratic as possible, transparent, not favoring any of the candidates, and at the same time organized for the first time in a way that made it possible to watch it both on television and on the Internet by virtually every citizen of Poland and every voter among Poles.
The invitation to the debate was also an invitation to the staffs to discuss all its details and principles. Unfortunately, the staff of Andrzej Duda refused to participate in these talks and finally informed us that their candidate would not take part in the debate. Thus, we regret to inform you that tomorrow’s debate cannot take place.
Podpisano:
Piotr Mieśnik, editor-in-chief of the Polish Army
Michał Samul, editor-in-chief of TVN24
Bartosz Węglarczyk, editor-in-chief of Onet
An invitation to Andrzej Duda and Rafał Trzaskowski
TVN, TVN24, Wirtualna Polska and Onet invited two winners of the first round of presidential elections to the debate scheduled for Thursday, July 2 at 19.25. They were to be led by Monika Olejnik (TVN24), Grzegorz Kajdanowicz (TVN / TVN24), Marek Kacprzak (Wirtualna Polska) and Andrzej Stankiewicz (Onet). The invitation was sent to the staffs of both candidates.
The debate was to take place according to precisely established rules. The order of answering the questions, speaking in the summary or place in the studio would be decided by a draw. The formula of the debate provided for journalists’ questions, retorts, mutual questions, questions from viewers and free statements of candidates.
The debate signal was to be made available to all other interested media free of charge. The broadcast was to take place on the TVN24 GO platform, on the home pages of Wirtualna Polska and Onet as well as on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Rafał Trzaskowski informed on Twitter that he agreed to participate in the debate and encouraged Andrzej Duda to take part in the meeting.
Andrzej Duda was against the proposed debate. “The debate should be for everyone, not for the elected. I believe that the three largest TVs should communicate, debate together and ask other media” – this was President Duda’s first reaction to the invitation. He added that “this will end the debate about the debate, unnecessary speculation and mutual accusations.”
Adam Bielan commented on the invitation earlier. – It’s a dictate and we don’t agree. I think the formula proposed by TVP is the most honest. The residents will ask there, not journalists with one or the other staff – he said in an interview with wp.pl. The TVP debate is to take place on July 6 in Końskie.
(pmd)
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