Financiarul

The decision made by the managers of the Romanian Television (TVR) to organize a debate with the candidates in the format it wants and with moderators from other televisions is “one-sided and abusive,” reads a release sent to the press on Wednesday by the campaign staff of Traian Basescu, Crin Antonescu, Kelemen Hunor and Sorin Oprescu.

“It is surprising that Mr Alexandru Sassu is coming now with the suggestion of organizing a debate in seven candidates, a suggestion already made and supported yesterday, November 17, by the staff of the Social Democratic Party, obviously backing Mircea Geoana’s wish to organize a diluted debate in which every participant should have a limited time to voice his opinions and thus avoiding a genuine debate,” reads the above-mentioned document.

The signatories of the release mention that COE of the Romanian Television Company Alexandru Sassu on Wednesday attended the meeting of the campaign staff and made it clear he was willing to organize a debate in five candidates, starting at 7:45 pm, but said he could not ensure only TVR moderators, the only acceptable formula being with the participation of two commercial TV stations, with which he had an unwritten partnership.