Poland's PM candidates to meet for TV debate
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
15.10.2015 11:17
The two candidates for the post of Prime Minister of Poland in the 25 October general elections Ewa Kopacz of the ruling PO party and Beata Szydło of the main opposition PiS party are set to meet in a live TV debate on Monday.
Beata Szydło (L) and Ewa Kopacz (R) will meet in a TV debate on Monday. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara, Jakub Kamiński
There will be three blocks discussing various subjects, which will be the first time Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and PiS candidate Beata Szydło meet each other to discuss key issues in the election campaign.
The TVN broadcaster has said that the subjects of the debate will cover economic and social issues, foreign policy and defence, as well as matters of state and politics.
Conservative Law and Justice (PiS) is promoting a slogan of “Poland is in ruins” critisising decisions by the government in terms of economic growth and infrastructure.
It is currently well ahead in the polls, which indicate that it could be in a position to lead a coalition following the election on 25 October.
A key member of the Civic Platform campaign has told daily Gazeta Wyborcza that the party aims to minimise the gap in opinion polls between the two parties.
“We will either stop [PO’s] downward trend in the polls, or end the campaign below 20 percent [support],” a strategist for the party told the daily. The ruling party, striving to remain in power, is running its campaign under the slogan "Strong economy, higher pay."
He added that in recent polls, the difference between PiS and the PO has grown up to 16 percent in favour of PiS.
The televised debate will be shown live on Monday 20 October at 8:00 pm CET on TVN24, Polsat and TVP1. (rg/rk)