Following Pilar Alegría's acceptance of a face-to-face debate with Jorge Azcón during her December candidacy launch, the PP and PSOE have voted in favor of holding it on Aragón TV for the February 8 regional elections, pending ratification. A debate with all eight parties in the Cortes was also approved, but IU and CHA plan to appeal to the Electoral Board.
The electoral committee of the Corporación Aragonesa de Radio y Televisión (CARTV) met on Thursday to approve a draft Coverage Plan for the February 8 Regional Elections. This includes a face-to-face debate between PP candidate Jorge Azcón and PSOE candidate Pilar Alegría—following her acceptance last December and the PP's request for it on Aragón TV—as well as a multi-party encounter with the eight parties represented in the Cortes de Aragón.
PP and PSOE were the only votes in favor; the proposals now await ratification by CARTV's board and the Electoral Board. Izquierda Unida (IU) and Chunta Aragonesista (CHA) announced appeals against the face-to-face format once finalized.
Such a two-candidate debate was last held in the 2015 regional elections (Luisa Fernanda Rudi vs. Javier Lambán), not in 2019 or 2023. CARTV proposes January 26 for the face-to-face and February 2 for the eight-party debate.
PSOE insists the College of Journalists arbitrate and select moderators amid multiple media requests. Final approval of the Coverage Plan, including airtime allocations for TV and radio, is set for Monday.
This complements RTVE's plans: an eight-party debate on February 5 and a face-to-face date TBD. CARTV emphasizes its history of inclusive debates in regional, local, general, and European elections.
