Uncertainty over presidential debate validity

Wladimir Sierra

According to political analysts, tomorrow’s presidential debate, held at the Chamber of Commerce of Guayaquil at 19:00 and made up of six of the eight presidential candidates who have already confirmed their participation, could degenerate into a confrontation between the candidates if clear rules are not set.

Analysts say that in the country there is not a “culture of debate” and applicants use these spaces to attack and not to argue their government plans.

Wladimir Sierra, director of the School of Sociology at the Catholic University of Ecuador, under that argument, says Correa, candidate for reelection who denied his participation in the event, does not need the debate because he already has a loyal voting capital.

Analyst Francisco Franco believes that Correa fears these opportunities because they can be very dangerous for his electoral aspirations, “The explosive nature of the head of state may cause a loss of votes, however, it could also favor him” said.

The debate will be moderated by Andrea Bernal, Ecuadorian journalist working in Colombia as chief of opinion in NTN24, and will be broadcast on Canal UNO, RTU, and three radio stations. (MZ)